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 Congratulations to the Rotary Clubs of Hatfield and Stevenage Grange, who are asking The Rotary Foundation (TRF) to match their endeavours to generate projects with a combined value of over $110,000.
In true international spirit these projects embrace many clubs in RIBI and overseas. In total, some 40 Clubs and 9 Districts are engaged in the projects. Hatfield’s Playpump project will provide fresh drinking water in 5 school locations to serve their neighbourhoods in Malawi. Stevenage Grange’s project will screen many thousands & restore sight for over 2,000 people in Karachi.
Stephen Sypula of the Grange, and next year’s D1260 International Chairman, said “These projects, which support RIP D.K.Lee’s theme of helping to reduce child mortality and other RI programmes, demonstrate the scale of impact which can come about when Clubs combine their energies and work closely with their sponsoring Districts and TRF.”
 A listing of all 18 Clubs and four Districts supporting this third ROI – Rotarians helping to make blindness history project, can be found on this Online Fair for Matching Grants link.
Within D1260 thanks are due to the following Club’s for participating in one or more of the projects:
- Amwell
- Berkhamsted Bulbourne
- Brookmans Park
- Harpenden Village
- Luton Someries
- Potters Bar
- St Alban’s Priory
- St Albans
- Stevenage
- Stevenage Grange
- Welwyn Garden City.
Commenting on Hatfield’s PlayPump project, Frank Taylor, also a member of DISC, said “This is our fourth Playpump project, but is by far the most ambitious. Each Playpump, which cost £7,500, takes just a day to install. Remarkably children playing can pump 1,400 litres an hour from bore holes drilled up to 330 feet deep. The cost includes 10 years maintenance support by the installer. What is particularly encouraging is that Duncan Goose, (a guest speaker at the upcoming District Conference ) has pledged that his Company One Water will fund a further five Playpumps in recognition of our combined efforts.”
 The Rotarians Ophthalmic Initiative (ROI) is not a project but an on-going RIBI and District 1260 Centennial Club programme or initiative to help Rotarians make blindness history in developing countries.
It works in partnership with Sightsavers, the IMPACT Foundation and other global eye-care charities to help meet WHO and VISION 2020:The Right to Sight’s aim to eliminate avoidable blindness in less developed countries by the year 2020.
It invites Club donations to provide lens free ophthalmoscopes, engraved ‘Donated by Rotarians’. These provide early screening of peoples in remote locations to diagnose eye-detectable sight and other life threatening conditions.
With donating Club approval, donations may be applied to a matching grant project which typically attracts £6 of additional funding for each £1 donated. Stevenage Grange's ROI is believed to be the only Club based programme having global reach to further this Rotary vision. More information is available from the ROI website.
 These two projects are proof, if needed that the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts. Rotary works well when International links with Foundation, and when a single Club can work with others. If your Club would like to celebrate an overseas project or needs support to develop one, why not contact your District 1260 International Committee Club link member.
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