| ||
 On July 13 the Rotary Club of Lincoln was given an update on the Global Grant that the club has undertaken as the international lead. Alice Klamer & Margaret Andrewes presented to our morning meeting: Navigating Our Global Grant Project Spring 2016 to Date (July 2021) The Rotary Club of Lincoln’s 5+ year journey with its Global Grant (GG) 197776 Project, “Eliminating Preventable Maternal & Child Mortality in Guatemala”, began in 2016 when Lincoln Rotarian Alice Klamer traveled to Guatemala with a small group of people associated with International Needs Canada. | ||
International Needs (IN) Canada is committed to helping communities in the developing world reach their full potential through development initiatives, and child sponsorship programs in collaboration with national and international partners, it fosters justice, peace and hope in communities devastated by civil conflict, poverty and disease.
In learning that Guatemala places among the 3 worst Latin American countries for maternal and child mortality, Alice returned home determined to garner Rotary’s support for a project, initiated by a professional health team in Guatemala, that targets high risk pregnancies and eliminates preventable deaths of mothers and babies in the Western Highlands Region. To be developed and implemented over 3 years, the project involves educating midwives, mothers, families, and communities on basic health practices to ensure children survive birth and then go on to thrive in life.
Between Spring 2016 and Fall 2018, Alice worked tirelessly to promote awareness of the project and build the partnerships needed to position Lincoln Rotary as the International Club in an application for a Global Grant through The Rotary Foundation (TRF). Key to her success was the organization of 12 Niagara Rotary Clubs (including Lincoln) as a cluster, each contributing $1000 USD to the project. With the Rotary Club of Guatemala Sur as the Host Club, the GG application was submitted and in May 2019, received approval. Finally in January 2020, TRF notified that GG197776 had completed all requirements & payment ($79,493 USD) had been deposited in the project bank account in Guatemala.
The onset of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020 set the implementation of the project back about 10 months. However, in Summer 2020, two project leaders were hired to organize the delivery of a training program for midwives in the Health District of Paquip, Chimaltenango, Western Highlands. And, in November 2020, health authorities approved the implementation of the program. Since then, 44 midwives have been in training through a series of modules delivered by Ruby Miranda, supervisor, and Álvaro Bal, facilitator.
| ||
| ||
hands and feet of the members of the Rotary Club of Lincoln, tests kits are being distributed to local businesses so they can conduct rapid self testing for Covid-19 for their employees.