Rotary Projects      

Disasters come in many forms - earthquake; cyclone; flood; refugee displacement - but

all share a common factor. The most urgent single problem facing the relief agencies is the

provision of a supply of safe drinking-water. In some cases, it may be possible for the

relief agencies to supply water from outside the affected area. In others, there is clearly

a need for those suffering in the aftermath of a disaster to achieve an early, if temporary,

self-sufficiency in the supply of safe drinking-water.                

The most urgent single problem facing the relief agencies is the provision of a supply of safe drinking water.

How can we help in case of disasters?

Included in the many international projects supported by our Club are:

Funding Emergency Shelter   

Shelter Boxes - When natural or other disasters strike in any part of the world, after the initial response of Relief Agencies, there is often a need for additional help in the form of Tents and Sleeping Bags to house the victims. Shelter Boxes contain a tent, ten sleeping bags and other equipment to help house up to ten people for upwards of six months. The Shelter Box Trust is organised and administered by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard and the boxes are held in store for immediate distribution when called for by international aid agencies.

Emergency Boxes - Each "Emergency Box" is filled with basic, essential supplies ranging from clothes to spades, pots and pans to nappies and toiletries. Boxes are stored until such times as an emergency arises somewhere in the world, e.g. crisis in Kosovo, earthquake in Iran, etc., and then shipped out when a humanitarian need has been identified. There are two types of box - one with contents intended for hot climates and another for cold climates.  The Emergency box bought by children in Holycross School in Croy , has been traced all the way to Bam in Iran to help the victims of earthquake.

Approximately 20% of the world's 6 billion population do not have access to clean water.

Aquaboxes -The Aquabox scheme is used by a number of schools in the Cumbernauld area as a project to help pupils become more aware of the aid required when disaster strikes. Rotary facilitates the activity, but the fundraising and gathering of supplies is undertaken by the pupils. Aquaboxes funded by schools are numbered and tracked so that the pupils know exactly where and how the box has been used.

With the above help 88 Aquaboxes and 10 Aquabox 30's have been distributed by our Club over the last 5 years.

Technology can help improve the water shortage situation and to that end we have supported two different types of water projects. 

The first is “Aquaboxes” and "Aquafilters".

The "Aquaboxes" are sent out to disaster areas as part of a rapid response to emergencies and are intended for short term relief while reliable supplies are being restored.

"Aquafilters" are sent to established communities that have water but need to treat it to have a permanent source of clean potable water . 

The second is “Water Aid” which finances finding water in arid areas and drilling new wells to provide a sustainable source for local communities.                                          

Link to New York Times 30.12.04 - need for clean water in disaster areas.

THE FIRST RESULTS ... SHELTERBOX TENTS ON THE GROUND IN SRI LANKA

PolioPlus - In 1985, Rotary launched the PolioPlus program to protect children worldwide from the cruel and fatal consequences of polio. In 1988, the World Health Assembly challenged the world to eradicate polio. Since that time, Rotary's efforts and those of partner agencies, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and governments around the world, have achieved a 99 percent reduction in the number of polio cases worldwide. The aim is to have eradicated polio by the end of 2005 and by that time Rotary's financial contributions will have exceeded US $600 million in addition to the provision of vaccine, assistance to health care workers and training to laboratory personnel to track the virus. 

International Understanding - Rotary firmly believes that by promoting international understanding tomorrow's world can be a better place. To this end, the Clubs in our District finance a team of young business people to visit another part of the world to discover how their businesses are conducted there and to experience life outside of the UK. In return we receive a similar team from that part of the world and arrange for them to have similar experiences here in Scotland. The programme is known as Group Study Exchange (GSE) with the emphasis spread equally over ‘working in groups’, ‘study of different ways of business and life’ and ‘ exchange of ideas’. 

Local projects we have supported include:

Cross Scotland Canal Walk - Every year Cumbernauld Rotary organises a very successful Walk across Scotland allowing groups to raise substantial amounts of money for charity. The club organises the event, makes arrangement for transport and provides marshals on the days of the event. The two day Sponsored Walk is from Bowling to Twechar (day one - 18 miles) and from there to Grangemouth ( day two - a further 18 miles). Teams have registered from Strathcarron Hospice but anyone is welcome to register for this event. Last year over £50,000 was raised for groups all over Scotland.

Christmas Food Collection - "The Cumbernauld Rotary Club held their Annual Christmas Food Collection at Tesco, Craigmarloch. 'Thank you' to the customers, whose donations enabled Rotary to collect 120 parcels. These have been circulated to 'The Salvation Army', 'Women's Aid', 'The Baptist Church', 'Croy Church' and the 'Unemployed Workers Centre', who will ensure that they go to those most deserving of a little extra help this Christmas.

Pantomime Tickets are made available in Cumbernauld for the Cottage Theatre Pantomime.

Community Events and stalls are organised as part of local Gala Days to raise funds so that we can continue to support many differing needs and causes locally. 

Youth Opportunity - Challenge Enterprise - a weekend programme devised for senior school students and RYLA - Rotary Youth leadership Award 2005 are supported and arranged by the club. Year 2004 saw the completion of this District 1020's 13th annual RYLA camps with 56 attendees venturing to Ardeonaig, Tayside for two very challenging weeks of physical and intellectual activities. 30 girls went to the camp commencing Saturday 17th July 2004 and 26 boys to the following camp commencing Saturday 24th July 2004. Also included are Rotary’s own Youth Leadership projects, including mock interviews, designed to provide both training and adventure.

'Five-a-Side' tournaments are organised to raise funds and support local charities.

The Rotary Club of Cumbernauld arranges selection of candidates for the 'David Heywood Award for Community Achievement'.

All of the events are intended to instil a sense of taking part in local community life and / or personal development. 

Health Care - Hospices, day care and nursing care related to cancer sufferers, research studies into cancer, and epilepsy and Downs syndrome relief centres have all received assistance. 

Fellowship - there is a continuing programme of events to extend fellowship within the Club

·         RSNO Christmas Dinner and Concert

·         Silloth Presidential dinner

·         Burns Supper

·         Dinner in Cumbernauld College