Around the globe, Rotarians connect with partners to build healthy, sustainable communities –to help the people in the communities to realize their dreams.
Projects in Guatemala
In partnership with Engineers without Borders, the Rotary Club of Milwaukee has worked in the Guatemala Highlands for over a decade. We have invested in 15 projects ranging in size from $10,000 to $200,000. We have built and improved water systems, constructed schools and pedestrian bridges and supported hygiene and agrarian training. Our two most recent projects are described below:
Escuintla Hospital. In a truly remarkable partnership, this project brings together resources from twelve Rotary clubs, five Districts, two foundations, the Rotary International World Fund, and EWB to build a vital clean and reliable water source for Escuintla Hospital in southeastern Guatemala, a critical medical facility. The estimated cost of the project is $195,598.
Water for drinking and sanitation at the hospital was in short supply as the primary water source was two antiquated and failing wells. Patients were even requested to bring their own water supplies with them when seeking medical services.
Click here to watch a short video of the raising of the water tank. Click here for the most recent update in Guatemala.
El Manantial. El Manantial is a community of 1,300 people in the municipality of Joyabaj who requested assistance to build a sustainable water supply and provide health and hygiene training. In the wet season there are two springs the community takes water from, but this is not a sustainable water source in the dry season. In the dry season people must walk to the river, a forty-minute round trip, to obtain water. Often this water is polluted.
In 2016 the community came together to discuss their water shortage problem and in 2017 they collaborated with the municipality and drilled a well. At 230 feet they reached a reliable water supply that also met water quality standards. The community requested our help to design and construct a water distribution system including an electric pump, water storage tank, water treatment, and gravity water system to reach 125 existing homes.
Eighteen Rotary Clubs, Five Districts and Rotary’s World Fund came together to raise $120,000 to make this dream a reality. Click here for the most recent update.
Polio Plus
Rotary International’s signature program, Polio Plus, was established in 1985 and has since been dedicated to eradicating polio around the world. More than one million Rotarians have volunteered their time and personal resources to protect more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries from polio. With only two endemic countries left, the campaign continues, supported by donations from RCM and other Rotary clubs around the world.