2016-12-01 And Now ... From the International Front
AND NOW….FROM THE INTERNATIONAL FRONTBy PDG Abe Feder - RC of Mesa West
From the 27th till the 30th of November, 90 Rotarians from Mexico and Arizona representing 18 Rotary clubs, descended upon Vera Cruz, Mexico to attend the 16th Annual Mexican-American Global Grants and Friendship Conference-and made history!
During that period of time 27 projects were reviewed for a possible commitment of $1,500,000 and while that did not take place, funding for projects in the form of cash and district designated funds in the amount of $732,000 did happen. Club and district designated funds in from Arizona and Mexico were nearly equal for the event.
6 projects were completely funded and they are:
- Recovery and storage of rainwater for 7 schools in Taxco, Mexico
- A newly developed clinic for the treatment of rheumatic patients in Puebla
- Home underground cistern systems and a well on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico
- To create additional vocational training classes and a job placement path for Cecati 42 ...
a school that works with mentally and physically challenged individuals in Vera Cruz Mexico
- To create and support a peace conference planned by a Rotary Peace Fellow in Mexico
4 projects that were partially funded are:
- A well for a village in Kenya, Africa-Prescott Sunup Rotary club
- Screening and early treatment of Hepatitis in Mongolia-Flagstaff Rotary Club
- To supply medical equipment for a clinic to support individuals undergoing chemotherapy- Puebla Industrial Rotary
- A mobile unit that will tour schools providing education on how to prevent burns and other types of injuries
- Funds were set aside in the form of district designated funds for the second phases of two other projects in the 2017-18 Rotary year they are:
- Creation or completion of school libraries-Boca Del Rio/Veracruz Rotary
- The treatment of waste water-to safe water-Zacatlan Rotary
But it was all not work-with their usual flare our Mexican hosts created sightseeing and host events that would rival those at an international conference, they included:
- A tour of San Juan De Ulua: Famed fort and notorious prison, where tales of torture abound
- A visit to the Aquarium of Veracruz
- A walk through and a visit to Plaza de Las Armas
- Tour of Fort Baluarte Santiago
- A visit to the city center- to be part of and see Dia de los Muertos, The Day of the Dead exhibits and procession.
- And yes…to visit the beach and some outstanding restaurants!
- With all the work that was done that was a lot to pack into to 3 days-but worth it!
For 2017 the conference will be headed back to the Phoenix Metro Area October 26-29
Want to be part of it? Contact Abe Feder International Service Chair-abefeder1@gmail.com 602-622-7289
