SUPPORTING INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

MEXICO SHOEBOX GIFTS PROGRAM: This Rotary project teams our District with a Tucson Arizona Rotary Club and a Nogales Mexico Rotary Club, all working together to bring Christmas to children in poor barrios outside of Nogales. The Rotarians, including member Margaret Nixon, organize the funding and local purchase of gifts (supporting the local economy). Then a small team actually travel to the area to assemble the gift boxes and distribute them to the children. As well, foodstuff packages are put together for the families. Margaret herself, at her own expense, has gone twice to Mexico, and serves on the District organizing Committee for the project. We were pleased to present Margaret with a cheque for $1,000 towards the 2011 project.

 CONDIMENTOS CARRIZAL: This Nicaragua project was the brainchild of member Richard Puntis. Condimentos Carizal is a sustainable development project created by the partnership of Roothams Gourmet Preserves and Syngenta Crop protection and supported by the Rotary Club of Guelph South. The project is designed to build upon the existing strengths of the community. Poverty is alleviated and the quality of life improves through employment and training in sustainable agriculture, growing cash crops that are consumed locally to improve nutrition and health, sold into local markets and manufactured into all-natural, gourmet condiments sold at a profit to local restauranteurs, tourists and for importation to Canada. We are excited to be involved at the ground level of such a worthwhile venture, and the club presented Richard with a cheque for $4,500 for the project.