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THE
2007 / 2008 CLEAN WATER
PROJECT -
A PERMANENT SOLUTION
On 25th
October Rotary
International was
presented with the UN
Association's
Humanitarian 2007 Award
for their "significant
commitment and efforts
to provide safe water
and sanitation to
sustainable developments
world wide". A great
honour indeed, and one
all Rotarians can be
justly proud of.
However, receiving this
Award does not in anyway
mean the project is
completed, because there
are still many areas in
the world that are still
badly in need of access
to safe drinking water.
So the work must
continue.
One such country is
Thailand, because their
piped or well water is
not safe to drink
without first being
fully filtered. Whereas
for example all ex-pats
only drink, or use for
cooking, pure bottled
water, no school can
afford to buy this in
the quantities needed -
very few Thais drink
heated or boiled
beverages such as tea
and coffee etc, but
consume a lot of water
straight from a tap. As
piped water is only
normally available in
dense residential areas
the majority of schools,
especially those in
villages etc, rely on
well water obtained by
pump from a bore hole in
their grounds. Because
of lack of funds most
schools drink this water
without any purifying
treatment whatsoever.
We want to fit as many
filtration systems as
possible, thus
safeguarding the pupils,
teachers and other staff
from exposure to the
many water borne
infections and diseases
that are prevalent in
tropical countries. The
bonus to this is that we
are helping not just the
schools, but many
families as pupils are
allowed to take some
water for home use. Also
the old adage -
prevention is better
than cure - takes on a
whole new meaning here
where adequate and
affordable medical
facilities are scarce
and most people have to
basically rely on their
own efforts and
traditional, often
ineffectual, herbal
treatment to overcome
any sickness. Medical
insurance is well beyond
their means. Our aim is
to raise the quality of
life for some of
Thailand's poorest
people, to save them
from a lot of pain and
suffering and at times
even save life itself.
It is a sad fact that if
the bread winner is
incapacitated for a
couple of months the
family incurs a debt,
just to exist, that can
take years to repay.
There is no State funded
financial help for these
people.
We have negotiated an
"at cost" deal with an
equipment supplier and
can now install a
comprehensive system for
an average of 80,000
baht, including a five
year maintenance
contract. Depending on
the exchange rate, this
is approx $2,300, 1,800
Euros or £1,200. ( To
give you some idea of
the economic difference
between Thailand and
first world countries -
80,000 baht is more than
many Thais earn per
annum. And that's for a
six-day working week,
with probably one week's
holiday. ) Although we
are of course very happy
to receive contributions
from any source, we do
need overseas support so
as to qualify for Rotary
Foundation Matching
Grants, thus increasing
the number of schools we
can help. Any assistance
we receive is greatly
appreciated, and donor's
names are recorded on a
plaque at the school(s)
where their money is
used.
A little about the very
active 21 year old Club
I am proud to have been
a member of for five
years, after spending 20
years in a UK Club, -
The Rotary Club of
Jomtien-Pattaya in
District 3340. We are a
truly international,
English speaking Club
and currently have 28
members, comprising
eight different
nationalities. Four
Thais, two Americans and
the others from various
European countries. Most
of our projects are very
much "hands on"
operations. For example,
with the schools we will
obtain work estimates,
approve the appropriate
one, then pay the
invoices direct after
satisfactory completion
of the job. We monitor
everything and NEVER
just give money, so any
donations are
safeguarded and very
wisely invested. We also
keep our supporters up
to date on progress,
complete with
photographs.
Our main local
fundraiser this year is
the 4th Cross Bay Swim,
explained elsewhere on
this site,, which has
become an accepted
annual event and the
Pattaya City authorities
are backing it as an
approved local function.
If you want more
information, have any
queries or wish to make
a donation please do not
hesitate to contact me
on swim@rotary-jomtien-pattaya.org
, marking your e-mail
for my attention.
Thank you for reading
this.
PP Cyril Gibbins Clean
Water Fund Co-ordinator
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