Jamestown News
Posted by Chris Anderson
ROTARY BOOTS ON THE GROUND
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Dave Troxell, member of the Rotary Club of Jamestown, and his wife Marissa, spoke to the club recently about the projects that Rotary is helping to fund in Katmandu, Nepal and Central Cambodia, where there is a Rotary club sponsored and supported school. They also reported on their trip to India to do one final massive inoculation against polio. Nothing quite like having club members with their boots on the ground coming back to report on ROTARY - DOING GOOD IN THE WORLD.....
Pictured (left to right): Dave, Marissa, along with members, Dan Overcash and Gordy Black.
First, they reported on the Nepalese Project which is a three year micro-investment. In year 1, the goal was to improve the weaving skills and business sense of the women. Year 2: Purchase better looms. Year three was supposed to be an expansion into retail outlets. However, the project is currently stalled due to the earthquake that struck the area. It is fully expected to be completed in the coming year.
David and Marissa then reported on their trip to India, where they volunteered as part of the Polio Plus Campaign. They showed some marvelous pictures of their time there, which included an impromptu invitation to a traditional wedding ceremony! Then, on to business—the Polio Plus Campaign - immunization day. India was declared “polio free” in 2014. However, this last year, there were cases from immigrants. It was decided that every child 5 or younger needed to be vaccinated. The day before the inoculation, the volunteers and local Rotarians marched through the streets to raise awareness. Thousands of Rotarians marched. The next day, people came to inoculation centers - and come they did! The volunteers were to put 2 drops on each child’s tongue. Dave and Marissa’s center did 402 inoculations.
Finally, the couple reported on the Cambodia Academy which is in Mongkol Borei-a subsistence community. It is 100% Rotarian sponsored. There is supposed to be free education is Cambodia-but it doesn’t exist. Each child costs $300, so the school looks for sponsors through an organization “Save”. In the past, Jamestown Rotary donated money for a lawn and a white board. This year, Jamestown Rotary supported eye tests. More information can be found at www.cambodiaacademy.org. The Troxells showed a wonderful video of a “typical day”. The school provides hot breakfast and lunch for over 300 students and teachers. It is in session from 7am to 4pm. David announced that the Vision Committee has approved $1700 for filtration system for clean water for this year.
The eye screening was done in February 2016. Jamestown Noon Rotary put up money for kids frames for glasses. 20 students were found to have severe eye deficiency. Also - 4 teachers received needed glasses! The lenses were ground on site.
Finally, the Troxells talked about the founder, Hans Eide, who passed away last year. The last program he attended was the performance of Marissa and David’s students. They teach English-and do it to a song. This year they chose Unique by Lenka. They showed another marvelous video of their students, singing the song.