Africa Project – Proposed installation of a micro hydro electric power plant in Malawi.
Reprt by Muir Austin 13 Oct 2011
The Rotary Club of Limbe, Blantyre, in southern Malawi and the Rotary Club of Ayr have jointly submitted an application to Rotary International in the USA for approval and grant funding to provide a solar power supply of electricity to three villages in rural Malawi. The electricity will provide electric light to school buildings to increase their times of use, electric power and light within homes, to promote home based industry, and in one instance will provide the power to operate a new water supply borehole. These villages will not be connected to the national grid for many years to come, if ever. The Rotary Club of Ayr is providing 54% of the cost of a project costing £42,000. The Club’s contribution to the project is being made from the profits from the sale of the guidebook to the club’s Ayrshire Coastal Path, donated to the club by the author, club member Dr James Begg.
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 |
