ROTARY INTERNATIONAL AIDS ROMBO
President Garth Arnold opened this weeks meeting (6.3.08.) of Donaghadee Rotary Club by welcoming the guests: - Matt Porter District Regional Coordinator for Rotary International, Past President David Finan District Chair for Rotary International, Elaine Bannon Paul Harris Fellow, Pres Ray Wilkinson Rotary Club of Monaghan and Sec David Drum Rotary Club of Monaghan. Past Pres David Finan thanked Donaghadee Rotary Club for hosting the evening; He said it was a pleasure to be in a lively and vibrant club. He added that only Mat and Elaine could do justice to Project Rombo. Matt Porter thanked the club for giving him the opportunity to talk about Project Rombo. Matt then played a video, which gave a sense of the work Rotary is sponsoring in Rombo. He then gave some facts about Rombo. Rombo in Kenya covers an area of 300 sq mts, it is home to 10,000 families. It is 5km from the nearest town. There has been no rain for over a year so the crops have failed. There is water but it is 30 meters below ground. Rotary is providing help with Education, Clean water and Health Care. Matt added that each Rotary club has been asked to donate £10 per member. Elaine in her address informed the members that she had visited Kenya on holiday but felt that she had to return and help the local Massi people staying for only a year. That was 5 years ago and she is still there working in the bush at Rombo. Elaine pointed out that contrary to public opinion in the UK Africans are not lazy. They go to work in the fields at 6am and plant and cultivate their crops by hand. They work until 8pm. They then return to the fields at nightfall to keep the elephants away from the crops. Elaine then went on to describe in detail how the money donated by Rotary is helping to improve the way of life for so many in Rombo. Matt Porter pointed out that the richer countries were not helping Africa in the way that they should. He stated that if 22 of the richest countries were to give 0.7% of their GDP as promised, they would eradicate poverty by 2012 but that only 5 were giving this amount and America the largest giver was only giving 0.17% Past President Mark Brooks thanked Elaine and Matt and also his boss David for their presentation. He said that if Elaine could visit each Rotary Club in the District with her passion and devotion then contributions would surely be increased. President Ray Wilkinson thanked Donaghadee for its welcome, fun and fellowship. He pointed out that Monaghan in celebrating its 40th birthday was supporting Rombo and presented Elaine with a cheque and wished her all the best for Rombo. President Garth thanked Elaine and Matt for a very moving talk.
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