ROTARY SUPPORTS HAITI SHELTERBOX PROJECT

 The Rotary Club of Gibraltar has today confirmed that it will be supporting The Haiti disaster relief effort in a very special way. The organisation is working alongside Rotary International and will be funding two of the ‘shelter boxes’ designed to provide warmth and shelter for the displaced Haitians in the country. In addition, Pam Drew, one of the Gibraltar Rotarians will be travelling to the UK headquarters of ShelterBox to help them with their work as a volunteer.

ShelterBox is a Rotary-sponsored international disaster relief charity specialising in emergency shelter provision. Humanitarian aid is delivered in iconic green ShelterBoxes. Each one contains a disaster relief tent for up to 10 people, a stove, blankets and other items essential for survival. ShelterBox responds to disaster as quickly as possible with the aim of helping the people who are most in need.

Every box is individually numbered and can be tracked by donors. Each box costs £490 – including the cost of all materials, packing, storage, transport worldwide and distribution to the needy. Assuming six months’ use, this equates to shelter and warmth for less than 30 pence per person per day.

All aid delivery is undertaken by international volunteer ShelterBox Response Team members who have carried out extensive training with ShelterBox. They are often able to get aid where it is needed faster than any other organisation.

An initiative of Rotarian Tom Henderson OBE, a former Royal Navy search and rescue diver, ShelterBox started in 2000 as a project of the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard, Cornwall. ShelterBox, now the largest Rotary Club project in the world, has responded to disasters including the Indian Ocean Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (Burma). In 2010, ShelterBox will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary.

As regards the Haiti disaster, Rotary President, Raju Alwani remarked that Gibraltar Rotarians are pleased to be involved in the ShelterBox project and will continue to work hard raising funds for ongoing relief.

ShelterBoxes

What is Shelterbox

A ShelterBox usually consists of:

• 10 thermal blankets

• A rugged 10 person dome tent

• Tools and other survival equipment

It provides:

• dry shelter

• a warm bed

• light and heat

• clean water

• cooking aids

• tools

• For up to 10 people: all supplied in a box ... a ShelterBox

Project M'Hamid

The Rotary Club of Gibraltar reported today that its sponsorship project in Morocco is moving to a new stage. For some time the Gibraltar Rotarians have been working with two other Rotary Clubs from Spain, Club Madrid Serrano and Club Nuevo Madrid, in conjunction with the President from the Association of Social and Cultural development of the village to support the refurbishment and development of a school and associated services. This is in a village in rural Morocco, in the South-east of the country,near the Algerian Border.

According to Rotary, the ongoing project is based in the village of M'Hamid El Ghezlane, the last oasis of the remote Draa valley, the northernmost entrance to the Sahara. Since the early days of the programme, the School and its linked services have been completely refurbished with reconstructed classrooms and library together with furniture and learning materials. More generally, washing and sanitary facilities, general medications, clothing and footwear have been provided for the pupils and their families. Backing up all this has been the supply and installation of two vital water pumps to provide supplies for the whole village.

The most recent visit made in November was to provide wheelchairs and eye specialists for an eye clinic. The school children also received bags donated and specially prepared with various personal items by children at the Loreto Convent, Gibraltar.

The next stage of the Ghezlane project will launch in the spring of  2010 and the Gibraltar Rotarians will be sponsoring similar developments in another school, an arts and crafts workshop for local women, an eye clinic for the villagers and the fostering of sports development in schools.

Rotary spokesman Jinson Lima said today that the Club is delighted to have been involved in the Ghezlane developments and the whole membership is looking forward to the next phase in 2010

Challenge for Ben

The Rotary Club of Gibraltar and Joint Forces Gibraltar sponsored the Challenge 4Ben - Jaunt2GIB event held on 29th August 2009

Set up in memory of soldier Benjamin Poole RM who fell in July 2008 the event set out to encourage young people of all ages to undertake some form of demanding personal challenge that requires commitment, courage and stamina - mental or physical. It's second aim was to raise funds via these challenges for worthy causes.

Ben's father, Nick challenged himself to sail on his 18ft lugger from Jersey to Gibraltar single handed to raise funds for Jersey charities and Help4Heroes.

A very successful Fund Day was held at Ocean Village, Gibraltar with many events taking place during the course of the day to suit all persons of all ages. All monies raised are for local charities and Help4Heroes.

The draw for the Rotary Raffle of a Tata Indica Car was held and the winning ticket was 2482.

New President for Rotary, Gibraltar

The Rotary Club of Gibraltar celebrated their Gala Dinner on 4th July at the Rock Hotel.   The event was extremely well attended by Rotarians and their guests. The Governor, Sir Robert Fulton (KBE, RM); his wife, Lady Fulton; Captain Timothy Cumming (the ADC); Commander Britsh Forces; Adrian Bell and his wife Hayley Bell were amongst the distinguished guests present on the occassion.

The evening in addition to being a major charity fund raiser also traditionally signals the annual change in the leadership of the Gibraltar Rotary Club. Raju Alwani formally took over the reins as President from Bea Adams.

Mr Ian Carpenter, long standing member of the Club was bestowed the Rotary Paul Harris Award.

During the evening President Raju said "I don't believe we are just ordinary people. Today's membership includes business and professional leaders who make critical decisions and influence policy. However, this is not what makes these people special, what makes them stand out is the fact that they give a large amount of their valuable time in order to help those less fortunate than themselves".