Update Kenya a Cautionary Tale
Posted by Craig Wilson on Jan 16, 2015
A successful Global Grant doesn't end with your fundraising efforts. The International host country club is critical to the success of any project.
UPDATE KENYA: A CAUTIONARY TALE
Our third water project in Kenya started with a visit in 2012 to Mosiro a place where over 15,000 people now enjoy good water from the earth provided by Rotarians in AZ and the Institute for Maasai Education Research and Conservation (MERC). Rotarian Bob Felt (Rotary Club of Hendersonville, N.C.) agreed to chair what has become a major effort in Water and Sanitation in that country. The Rotary Club of Naivasha, Kenya became the host club and soon a workable project strategy was developed, expenses projected and budgets developed. Rotarian Fred Goldman, PhD. (Phoenix 100) and water engineer by profession led the technical. Fundraising was completed in 2014 and approximately $120,000 usd raised including generous Rotary Foundation matches. Here is where the caution comes in...Projects left undone or under reported can have difficult effects on current projects. How? Our host country partner had a project underway as we started this one. They were working with a club in Canada and the project itself was successfully completed in 2013 but the final report was inadequate for TRF to sign off. Now, no funds will be released until an acceptable report is filed. Fortunately, the paperwork is being assembled and we expect after delays of almost 7 months that the funds can and will be available to actually start work this Spring. The good news is that not only did our district contribute but 3 other districts in the US, one in Mexico and another in Kenya came together to make it all happen. Our district foundation grants committee can help you avoid problems as you begin on the road to a successful project.