International Service
Africa Power Project
Following many many months of discussions with Practical Action, a charity organisation that specialises in providing essential infrastructure projects in developing countries throughout the world, we reluctantly have had to withdraw from any further negotiations to become involved in one of their micro-hydro electric power projects in Malawi. Practical Action was unable to offer a project that would suit our available funds and that would accommodate a timescale that would allow us to apply for a matching grant from Rotary Foundation.
The committee, with the assistance of Ian Dickson, the District International Officer, who has some experience of Rotary projects in Malawi, have opened discussions with the Rotary Club of Limbe, Limbe being a suburb of the city of Blantyre in the south of Malawi. During earlier correspondence with the Rotary Club of Limbe, when a micro-hydro electric project was still the preferred project, one of their members, who is an employee of the Malawi national power company, suggested that we consider supporting a solar power installation project. A solar power installation can be located anywhere, including remote areas where no other power source exists.
We are now waiting on the details of a solar power installation from the Limbe Club. Ian Dickson has already drafted out an application form for a matching grant, and has established that the District could contribute £1500 from its fund for supporting matching grant applications (District Designated Fund). So after a very lengthy and disappointing period we are now, hopefully, making good progress to fulfilling our goal of providing power to a remote area of Southern Africa financed by the profit from the sales of the Coastal Path guide book.
Muir Austin
International Committee Convener
Report by Geoff Barber August 2010
More funds for the African Project
On a recent visit to Ayr, my son-in-law, Giles, asked me about my year as Rotary President, and during the discussion that followed I explained to him about our shortfall in funds for the micro-hydro project. The next morning Sarah and Giles came down to breakfast and announced that they would raise some funds.
Giles sells prestige cars on the internet (gcmotors.co.uk) and from a showroom in Harrogate and they were about to hold a launch for their recently refurbished service facilities.
On 26 June around 100 invited customers came to an evening function – food, wine and entertainment, displays from local companies and an opportunity for networking. It all started at 7.30pm and the last people left just before midnight – a great success.
Round about 20 items had been gifted for auction and for a raffle. These included a meal for 8 in your own home, an oil painting done specially for the event by John Mackie, a Glasgow born artist, a Ferrari for the weekend and so on – fantastic items. The generosity of Giles and his friends and customers was amazing. The Africa project had captured their imaginations.
Over £8,000 was raised for the African project.
Giles with your PP Geoff
Some of the entertainment |
Mother and daughter |
