International Committee 2012
Report by Muir Austin, International Convenor
The International Committee activities over the coming months are -
1) The Club, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Limbe in Malawi, has made an application to Rotary Foundation in America for grant aid to augment the £25,000 the Ayr Club is donating to the installation of solar power electricity generating units in remote villages in central Malawi. The progress of the application is being monitored and various details relating to the solar power installations are being investigated with the members of the Limbe Club. It is hoped that the project will be completed by the middle of the new year.
2) The Council of the Ayr Club had agreed to a recommendation from the International Committee to support an all Scottish Rotary Districts project to provide 'sand dams' in seasonal drought areas of Ethiopia. This project would provide dams across river beds to provide water reservoirs in coarse sand/gravel infill that could be tapped into to provide a water source in the dry season. Unfortunately there was not too much support from other clubs within the Districts. However the Committee will be considering support for other such projects that are organised by the charity arm of Scottish Water, Water Aid.
3) The Committee will also consider supporting projects that involve lending small amounts of money to individuals in developing countries to trade or work their way out of poverty. Once the individual has a profitable business up and running the original loan is paid back and the money recycled to support another individual.