Details of the W.A.S.H.Program
WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) Matching Grant 2012-2013
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Dear Clubs of Rotary District 7810,
Greetings from Calais Maine.
Our District, thanks to DG John Carkner, DG Leigh Cummings, and now DG Allan MacLellan, and thanks to the Clubs of the district has been instrumental in beginning and in continuing to support the BioSand Water Filter Program in La Romana, Dominican Republic.
To date this program has installed more than 3000 plastic Hydraid BioSand filters in the DR, primarily in the homes of the sugar cane cutters and their families living in the bateys (sugar cane villages ) of the eastern Dominican Republic, primarily Haitian immigrants. With last year’s Matching Grant ($100,000) we have continued the filter installations and have expanded into areas of sanitation and hygiene.
We are again writing a Matching Grant with the initial investment of $10,000 in DDF, thanks to our WCS committee and DG Allan, to provide more sanitation (primarily latrine construction) and hygiene (hand washing facilities and education) programs. This Grant will expand the pilot program for Water Promoters (filter and health monitors) on the bateys.
The District Designated Funds (DDF/Share) are matched by the Rotary Foundation in a Matching Grant 1:1 to become $20,000 in the final grant budget. Club Contributions are matched 0.5:1.0 and provide the remainder of the grant budget.
In the past two years, Club Contributions have amounted to $25K and $40K to become $37,500 and $60,000 when matched by TRF. These Club Contributions came from more than twenty RD7810 Rotary Clubs, and ranged in amount from $500 to $5000. We are asking for a similar $40K Club Contribution for the current MG application.
Remember, a Club Contribution to a Matching Grant is a positive donation in three different ways:
First, the contribution goes directly to funding the grant program in this case the BioSand filter program in La Romana, and is multiplied by 1.5 toward that goal.
Second, the Contribution counts toward Foundation giving by the Club.
And Third, the amount contributed is assigned Paul Harris Recognition Points to be used by the Club for Paul Harris Fellowships in the Club.
Any Club can contribute in any amount, and receive the three benefits outlined above.
If your Club has not yet designated an international project, or even if it has and wishes to continue to support the WASH programs in the Dominican Republic, please contribute to this Matching Grant for 2012-2013. Contact me for any more information or details of the WASH programs.
Bob Chagrasulis, M.D. Rotary Club of Calais Maine, RD7810 Water Management Chair
Download the website sponsorship guide