International Service

The international projects are organised by the International Service Committee

• East Timor Water Infrastructure Project
• The Essential Skills Project - In East Timor - in conjunction with Leeuwin Care
• Rotary Youth Exchange Programme
• School Sports Uniforms to Mongolia
• International Funding for Water Sourcing Grants for East Timor
• The training of a Doctor from Tanzania in the Burns Unit at Royal Perth Hospital
• Tsunami Relief Efforts
   

East Timor Water Infrastructure Project

Background: The Rotary Club Of Perth commenced searching in July 2001 for a water infrastructure project in East Timor that would provide significant community benefit.

After nearly two years the Rotary Club of Perth has identified a village, which would significantly benefit from running potable water.  The village of Cai Rui in the Manatutu district, 100kms east of Dili has been selected due to their current dire water availability and water quality issues.

The Project Aim: The Rotary Club of Perth is currently aiming to raise US$32,000 to provide a solar powered pumping system which will provide potable running water to various points in the main street of Cai Rui servicing the estimated population of 600 people.

Currently drinking water is collected from the nearby river at a rate of approximately 2.5 litres per person per day – two round trips per family (four people) per day.  We will replace this with 19,000 litres per day or 31 litres per person per day.

Benefits from the project will include:
·         Increased water for cooking, hygiene and sanitation;
·         A reduction of water borne diseases;
·         Increased water for subsistence farming; and
·         A saving of 500 labour hours per day could then be redirected to subsistence farming.

 “No single measure would do more to reduce disease and save lives in the developing world than bringing safe water and adequate sanitation to all.”   UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

A quote of A$41,000 has recently been received and now the process of identifying sponsors commences.

The Essential Skills Project - In East Timor - in conjunction with Leeuwin Care

Two young people will come to Perth around April 2005 for 3 months to learn some hands on essential skills for a community.  One will learn 'bush mechanics' and the other will learn basic building construction.  Funding comes from The Perth Rotary Club for the airfares for these young men. Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) will be paying for the tools they will be using here and taking home with them to East Timor. The accommodation and transport to and from the places of training will be arranged by the East Timorese community living here through Leeuwin Care in Western Australia.  It is hoped that with the success of this type of project that it will become the blueprint for similar future projects.

 Rotary Youth Exchange Programme

The Rotary Youth Exchange Program is by far one of the most outstanding and enduring projects of all of Rotary International's endeavours.  The ongoing goodwill and understanding between the countries that engage in the exchange continues well after the students have returned to their own countries.

Inbound - We are currently hosting a student from Denmark. Jacob Christensen arrived in July 2004 and will return in July 2005. In July 2005  a student will come from France for one year.

Outbound - Sophie Smith returned from Taiwan in January of this year after spend 12 fabulous months living in a country town just out side of Taipei.  We will soon commence looking for a suitable student to send overseas in 2006.

The students pay for their own airfares and insurance, as well as host overseas exchange students when they return home to their own countries.  The Rotary Clubs give the students a weekly allowance.

School Sports Uniforms to Mongolia

We are arranging for some surplus uniforms from a private girls' school here in Perth to be shipped to Christina Noble's Orphanage in Mongolia.  The container which will be used to ship the uniforms will also be donated to the orphanage to use as shelter.  Any space available in the container will be offered for other worthwhile donations to go to the orphanage.  All arrangements are close to being finalised and hopefully the uniforms and the container will be leaving in the next few months.

International Funding for Water Sourcing Grants for East Timor

This is an ongoing project that will probably take another year.  It is in conjunction with Austrade and The World Bank and Rotary International.

The training of a Doctor from Tanzania in the Burns Unit at Royal Perth Hospital

A doctor from Tanzania has requested some special training in the treatment of burns for approximately 12 weeks from the internationally acclaimed Burns Unit at Royal Perth Hospital under the tutelage of Dr Fiona Wood. The Rotary Club of Perth has donated $1500 to help cover his living expenses during his stay in Perth. His arrival date has been postponed to coincide with the Annual Scientific Congress 2005 Monday May 9 - Friday May 13, 2005 for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.  This congress will take place at the end of his stay and he will be attending.  It will further enhance his Perth visit.  At present there is no burns medical specialist working in the hospital in Tanzania. 

Tsunami Relief Efforts

The Perth Rotary Club is raising donations from the membership and the community and will be targeting specific needs through the Rotary Australia World Community Services organisation in those countries affected by the disaster.  At this stage, because investigations of how best to help are still underway, it is anticipated that at around the first anniversary of the disaster commitments will be made various communities and projects.

More information on the international projects

The international projects are organised by the International Service Committee