This Week - Professor Steven Friedman on the Latest Political Developments; GNU plus.

 

Steven Friedman is director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Johannesburg. His current research focuses on democratic theory, and over the past decade, he has largely written on the relationship between democracy, social inequality and economic growth. In particular, he has stressed the role of citizen voice in strengthening democracy and promoting equality and has also analysed biases in South Africa’s democratisation which has obstructed democratic participation by the poor. Dr. Friedman has also researched and written widely on the South African transition to democracy, both before and after the elections of 1994. During the 1980s, he produced a series of studies of reform apartheid and its implications for a democratic future.

Dr. Friedman recently published Race, Class and Power: Harold Wolpe and the Radical Critique of Apartheid, a study of radical social thought in the fight against apartheid and its implications for contemporary South Africa. He is currently working on a study which assigns primacy to the role of collective action in creating and sustaining democratic systems of government and a project which is examining the way in which commonly used phrases and terms in the South African policy debate unwittingly reinforce attitudes which are hostile to democracy. His most recent published articles include “The Ambiguous Legacy of Liberalism: Less a Theory of Society, More a State of Mind?” in Intellectual Traditions in South Africa: Ideas, Individuals and Institutions, edited by Peter Vale, Lawrence Hamilton and Estelle H. Prinsloo;  “What We Know Can’t Hurt Them: Origins, Sources of Sustenance, and Survival Prospects of Budget Transparency in South Africa” in Open Budgets: The Political Economy of Transparency, Participation and Accountability edited by Sanjeev Khagram, Archon Fung and Paolo de Renzio; “From Classroom to Class Struggle: Radical Academics and the Rebirth of Trade Unionism in the 1970s” published in Journal of Asian and African Studies and  “South Africa: Electoral Dominance, Identity Politics and Democracy’ in Party Systems and Democracy in Africa edited by Renske Doorenspleet and Lia Nijzink. He has authored columns for various newspapers including the Weekly Mail, Business Day, and Mail and Guardian.

He received his BA (Hons) in Political Science at the University of the Witwatersrand, and a D. Litt from Rhodes University.

Next Week

It's a Business Meeting.  The first one of the new Rotary Year when the new board and the old one meet together despite there obviously being an overlap.

Last Week

It was a Project Meeting with the emphasis on sorting out the solar installation at Bethany.  

International - IT Professionals Forum Rotary Fellowship

The IT Professionals Forum Rotary Fellowship is a new community aimed at harnessing the expertise of tech-savvy members to foster significant societal change through innovation and technology. This new fellowship represents a bold step forward in integrating advanced technology solutions within the Rotary community to enhance global service initiatives.

Mission and Vision

The IT Professionals Rotary Fellowship is founded on the principle of leveraging technology to improve lives—a vision that aligns seamlessly with Rotary’s enduring commitment to Service Above Self. By blending the technical expertise of its members with the philanthropic objectives of Rotary, the fellowship aims to address complex challenges across diverse communities worldwide.

Empowering Technological Transformation

The fellowship stands at the intersection of technology and community service, uniquely positioned to drive transformative projects. From developing digital literacy programs and implementing sustainable technology infrastructures in underserved areas to creating innovative solutions for health and education, the possibilities are limitless.

“The potential of technology to solve complex problems and improve the quality of life is enormous. Through this fellowship, we bring together the brightest minds in IT to multiply the impact of their skills by applying them to meaningful projects,” explained the Fellowship Chair, Rotarian Rakesh Babuji.

Opportunities for Members

Membership in the IT Professionals Rotary Fellowship opens a plethora of opportunities for personal and professional growth, as well as the chance to make a substantial impact in:

1. Professional Development: Members will have access to a wealth of resources, including cutting-edge workshops, webinars, and conferences that discuss emerging technologies and their applications. This continuous learning environment not only keeps members updated on the latest technological trends but also equips them with new tools to tackle projects effectively.

2. Networking: The fellowship facilitates a global network where professionals can connect, collaborate, and share insights with peers who share a common vision of service through technology. These connections can lead to innovative projects and solutions tailored to community needs.

3. Project Leadership and Participation: Members can lead or participate in projects that align with their expertise and interests. Whether it’s deploying a new database system for a nonprofit, designing educational software for schools in remote areas, or developing a mobile health application, each project provides tangible benefits to communities and invaluable experience to the members involved.

4. Recognition and Growth: As members contribute to various projects and initiatives, they gain recognition within the Rotary community and their professional fields, enhancing their personal growth and professional stature.

This Week: A Project Meeting

 There seem to be a number of new projects up for discussion including Rest A While where Andrew Paschalides took me to have a look at the kitchen.  There are problems at Bethany with the solar installation and Christmas in July at Gerald Fitzpatrick Home amongst others.

There will be a report on the Emzini Meeting.

Another problem we have to face is the extra money that will be required for any new projects.

Next Week - Professor Steven Friedman

He will be talking about the progress withe the Government of National Unity (GNU) and what is likely to happen in the future.  By the time he speaks to us the new cabinet will have been finalised and sworn in.  It promises to be a very interesting meeting.

Last Week

Dave Holmes talked about his epic tour of South Africa on his Matchless motorcycle.  Unfortunately I was unable to attend but I gather it was a fascinating talk and he was a most entertaining speaker.

A couple of members have said that they would have liked to hear more and chat to him.  As a result I have asked him if he would be prepared to attend our next social breakfast/brunch and he would be delighted to come.

International - Madagascar

Addressing needs caused by recent famine, clubs in District 9220 delivered 800 packages of rice, water, cooking oil, and other staples, as well as hygiene products, to the community of Ankiliabo in April. “Lately, the kere [famine or hunger in the local parlance] has taken on a great magnitude because the climate conditions do not allow the population in this area to live properly through agriculture and livestock,” says Narindra Razafinimaro, immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Antananarivo-Anosy, which led the effort. The Rotary Club of Saint-Denis-La Montagne, in the French department of Réunion, another island in the district, contributed about $2,700.

This Week - Dave Holmes

Dave Holmes will be talking about his 4 200km round South Africa on his vintage Matchless Motorcycle.  We'll hear about his trials and tribulations and his triumphs. A remarkable achievement.                                                                                                             Matchless is one of the oldest marques of British motorcycles, manufactured in Plumstead, London, between 1899 and 1966. A wide range of models were produced under the Matchless name, ranging from small two-strokes to 750 cc four-stroke twins. Matchless had a long history of racing success; a Matchless ridden by Charlie Collier won the first single-cylinder race in the first Isle of Man TT in 1907.

Golf Day

Last Wednesday saw our Rotary Club Golf Day come to fruition.  It's too early to know of our financial benefit but it was good to meet those who supported us because they were so enthusiastic about the day despite the freezing cold weather.

Congratulations, Bill Brunjes, on your organisation of the event.  Here is his team of assistants from which he is conspicuously absent!  I don't know how he manages to have so many prizes for participants.

The Saturday Brunch at Emzini in Westdene

This really exceeded expectations as we had three interesting talks on how to create community and a video of how this was achieved where Westdene Dam and Park is concerned.  

Mark Napier talked about the Dam specifically and the involvement of the Soweto Canoe Club. 

Richard Griffin gave us a broader talk on the involvement of the Rotary Club of Johannesburg North Central on community involvement and ways of assisting people with employment and many other things.

Debbie Cockrell came in later as she had been running a workshop really just to meet us.  

I must especially thank Richard for providing a wonderful brunch at an affordable price.

This is the first meeting and I am sure we all look forward to future cooperation between the two clubs.

Next Week

It's a Project Meeting.  The wheelchairs have arrived.  Preparations for Christmas in July for Gerald Fitzpatrick Home and also on the Emzini Meeting...but I am sure that will not be all.

International - England

Rotary clubs in District 1200 hold a full menu of skills tests in disciplines including writing, speaking, music, technology, and more, but the Young Chef event is among the most popular. At a district-level qualifier directed by connoisseurs of the Rotary Club of Burnham-on-Sea in February, seven high school students whipped up three-course menus in two hours. The victorious victuals included venison steaks accompanied by fondant sweet potato, pea puree with juniper berry red wine sauce, and strawberry mille-feuille, a puff pastry dessert. The winning chef and a runner-up advanced to the regional final in Cardiff, Wales, in March. “We find it a rewarding competition for us as well as the contestants,” says Jane Gibbs, a Burnham-on-Sea club member who has organized Young Chef assemblies for more than a dozen years.

This Week - No Online Meeting, Golf Day Social Instead

Rotary Club of Knights Pendragon Golf Day at The Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club, 1 Fairway Ave, Linksfield North, Johannesburg, 2192  

Everyone is welcome to attend the Golf Day just to see what's happening during the day or to attend the prize giving and dinner in the evening or just to have a drink.

It's important that we socialise with the players who are supporting our golf day and just being there shows that we appreciate their support.

Social Breakfast/Brunch at Emzini, Westdene.  Saturday 8th June  @ 09:30

This is more than a social breakfast because of the interest shown by the club in the Rotary Club of Johannesburg N Central's Projects at the Westdene Dam.  The owner of the restaurant, Richard Griffin, is also Secretary of the Rotary Club and he is organising some members from his club to meet us.

It promises to be a very interesting morning....and the food is good.

I have sent out a request for numbers attending on the Club WhatsApp Group.  If you are not in that group and would like to attend just email me  peter@pjsfood.co.za

Last Week - Business Meeting

Discussion revolved around a couple of future regular happenings such as Christmas in July at Gerald Fitzpatrick Home as well as other minor things such as the provision of hearing aids for one of the residents.  There were considerable discussions on the proposed expansion of vegetable growing projects in townships that we are involved with and if they were sustainable long term.

As we are now in the last month of the Rotary Year the transition to a new President and Board was very much in mind.

Next Week - Dave Holmes 

Dave Holmes will be talking about his 4 200km tour of South Africa on his vintage Matchless motorcycle.  He is older than many of us.  The motorcycle's name is Murgatroyd.

International - Philippines

The Rotary Club of Iloilo South’s  remarkable achievements during the Rotary year 2023-2024 and impactful projects, particularly the “Lakat Liwat” (Walk Again) initiative in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Coimbatore India and the “Bagong Kamay” (New Arms) project with the support of L4N and ambassadors Engr. Reynaldo Cabato and Mrs. Grace Cabato, showcase the club’s commitment to making a significant difference in the lives of others.

The “Lakat Liwat” project is centered around mobility and rehabilitation, providing assistance to those who face challenges with walking. Such initiatives by Pp Evacis Jaena during the Rotary international convention in Australia was not only change lives but also contribute to enhancing the quality of life for individuals in need. Similarly, the “Bagong Kamay” project suggests a focus on providing new arms prosthetics, to those who have lost limbs. This type of project is life changing, offering individuals newfound independence and opportunities.

As of today, we are pleased to announce that the “Lakat Liwat” project has benefited 240 limb prosthetics recipients, while the “Bagong Kamay” project has supported 150 arm prosthetics recipients. These numbers reflect the tangible and positive difference our club has made in the lives of those in need.

A special acknowledgment goes to incoming PE Jaypee Patriarca and PP Nieva Patriarca, who have been at the forefront of these initiatives. Their tireless efforts in preparing, have undoubtedly been instrumental in the success of the prosthetics projects. Their commitment and leadership have set a positive example for the Rotary Club of Iloilo South members and have contributed to the unwavering support received from the club’s President and its members.  Projects of this nature not only transform the lives of the direct beneficiaries but also create a lasting impact on the community by promoting inclusivity and offering individuals a chance to lead fulfilling lives.  The impact of the “Lakat Liwat” and “Bagong Kamay” projects extends far beyond the provision of free prosthetics. The stories of recipients engaging in livelihood activities such as driving tricycles and offering cellphone repairs illustrate the transformative power of these initiatives. These projects have not only restored physical mobility but have also empowered individuals to pursue meaningful and productive lives.

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By uplifting the morale of the beneficiaries, our Rotary Club has contributed to creating a sense of purpose and self-worth among those who have received prosthetics. This is a testament to the holistic nature of Rotary projects, which not only address immediate physical needs but also strive to enhance overall well-being and quality of life.

The success stories emerging from these projects are worth sharing as they inspire others and highlight the positive ripple effects of Rotary’s commitment to service. These individuals are not just recipients of prosthetics; they are active participants in their communities, contributing to economic activities and demonstrating resilience and determination.
It’s through projects like these that Rotary Club of Iloilo South continues to make a lasting impact on communities, fostering empowerment and inclusivity. Their stories could serve as powerful narratives to further emphasize the significance of these initiatives.

The Rotary Club of Iloilo South with its humanitarian endeavors strive to continue to sustain the “Lakat Liwat” and “Bagong Kamay” projects to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need not only now but in the years to come.

This Week - Business Meeting despite the Public Holiday

 It's only a week to the Golf Day so that is obviously first on the agenda....and there is only one more Business Meeting before the new President and the new board.  The year seems to have gone so quickly!

Next Week

It's the annual Golf Day so there will not be a meeting at the usual time, instead we will be meeting at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club for the prize giving and to be sociable  It's very important that we are there to thank those who support our golf day and show them how much we appreciate their presence.

Emzini Restaurant

Address: 12 Lewes Rd, Westdene, Johannesburg, 2092

Also, next week on Saturday 8th June we will be having a Social Breakfast/Brunch at Richard Griffin's restaurant, Emzini in Westdene.  It was suggested at the meeting but our Youth Committee took up the idea as they were keen on working with Richard Griffin and Debbie Cockrell and felt that it would be an advantage to bothe our Club and the Rotary Club of Johannesburg North Central.

Many of us were intrigued at their approach to the problems of Westdene and also to what they had been able to achieve in the Westdene Dam area.

Last Week

It was a project meeting when we looked at some of our existing projects and discussed new ones.  Andy Stevenson had been to look at a Rotary Aquaponic  Vegetable Project which he felt we should look at.  There was some discussion on Aquaponics as opposed to Hydroponics.  There is no prize for knowing the difference between the two.

You can see how aquaponics function from the picture of this small system.

We also discussed hearing aids for a an elderly lady at Gerald Fitzpatrick home and made some progress there and much more.  A very productive meeting.

International - Japan

Paul Harris plants a tree in Japan in 1935

Rotary founder Paul Harris visited Japan with Bob Hill, then president of Rotary International, and his wife. They stopped by on their way to the 5th Pacific Regional Conference in Manila. On that occasion, Paul Harris commemorated the occasion by planting a laurel tree in the garden of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. The tree was on the verge of dying, but an attempt was made to propagate it, and several trees fortunately took root and are now growing vigorously all over Japan as second and third generations of Paul Harris' laurel trees.

Rotary had grown steadily since the founding of the Chicago Rotary Club in 1905, but World War II put it through a major challenge. Clubs in Europe, such as Germany and Austria, were forced to disband one after another. Japanese clubs were no exception. They tried to find ways to continue, but in 1940 they finally resolved to withdraw from Rotary International. However, not all clubs were dissolved at the time of withdrawal, and many clubs continued to meet, changing their names to more Japanese names such as Wednesday Club and Thursday Club.

In 1940, the Rotary Club of Japan withdrew from Rotary International (RI), but was allowed back in 1949 after the war. On March 29 of that year, the Rotary Club of Tokyo was re-registered with RI under the old registration number 855, and on April 27, Secretary General George Means handed the charter to President Masakazu Kobayashi at a regular meeting.

Today in Japan there are 2 205 Clubs with 88 900 Rotarians.  Three Japanese have become Rotary International President.

This Week - Project Meeting

 

I don't know what projects are going to be discussed though no doubt the Golf Day will be paramount as it is potentially a big fundraiser.  My concern is the wheelchairs that we have ordered and been billed for but we don't seem able to collect them.

Talking of wheelchairs there is a need for someone to look at the electric wheelchairs at Little Eden as some need to be repaired.

Next Week

It's a Business Meeting which will no doubt follow on from this week's Project Meeting.  It's a week early because the following week is the Golf Day and a Social Meeting for those who would like to attend the prize giving etc.  It's important that we have presence there over and above Bill Brunjes and his team so that we can meet the participants and they are aware of the club's interest in the event as a whole and how we appreciate their participation.

Last Week

The talk by Richard Griffin and Debbie Cockrell was inspiring because the whole concept was refreshing.  I had said that I would include the presentation here but despite converting from pdf to jpg it will not accept it so, instead, I will send it as an attachment to the email.

International - Rowing across the Atlantic Ocean  Garreth  Murrell is a member of the Tyneside Rotary Club with a decade-long military career, including tours of Northern Ireland and Bosnia. Having overcome his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder thanks to Neuro Linguistic Psychotherapy, Garreth changed careers to become a psychotherapist as well as founding the charity ‘Veterans at Ease’. To date, Garreth has helped over 400 veterans, serving personnel and their families deal with PTSD and find peace of mind. A year ago, after 45 days 1 hour, and 54 minutes at sea, Garreth Murrell completed the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge as part of Team Emotive, made up of three members of his military mental health charity Veterans at Ease – Chris Harvey, Jason Watkin, and Phil Kite. It is regarded as the world’s toughest row – a 3,000-mile feat of endurance from San Sebastian in La Gomera in the Canary Islands, to Nelson’s Dockyard English Harbour on the Carribean island of Antigua & Barbuda. In completing the epic challenge, Garreth became the first Rotarian to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a rowing boat.

After three and a half years of training and fund-raising in order for the challenge to take place, all that lay in front of Garreth was nearly two months of battling the elements in one of the world’s most foreboding oceans. How did he get on? Garreth takes you through the journey in his own words.

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Race Day – December 12th, 2022

Walking down to the marina is quite surreal, knowing that once we depart there is no going back, as literally after one mile out at sea, the currents and tides are so strong you cannot physically row back.

A few other rowers are also stirring and, like Chris and myself, are silently walking down to the marina one last time in quiet contemplation of what must be done and what is yet to come.

The First Week

It’s said in briefings that the worst time is the first seven days. I found this to be most certainly true.

There is so much going on that your body and mind are desperately trying not to get overwhelmed.

You have to eat, sleep, and go the loo all in the space of three single beds whilst sharing this space with three other men who are not slight in stature.

There’s the sun to keep away from, the motion of the boat and, of course, getting used to each other – how we are in the early hours as well as how we are before and after a two-hour shift on the oars. The blisters were dealt with by wrapping them with zinc oxide tape – after a few days, the skin under the tape hardened quite nicely.

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Stormy Weather

The following seven days from Boxing Day were, by far, the most taxing and testing for us – the weather started to get worse, and quickly.

There is a need for a great deal of self-care in conditions like these and personal admin in dealing with soaking clothes and swollen hands due to the constant wetness. Eating and drinking enough food and fluids becomes laborious and even talking is something that, if you are not careful, drifts away.

So, when the boat gets struck by rogue waves that come out of nowhere at night, your mettle is very severely tested.

The waves at this time were at their highest at around 25 to 30 feet. Of course, the benefit of rowing hard to get to the top before they break is that you get that massive surge forward as you literally surf down the other side.

Watching the speed counter became exhilarating when you hit a new speed record and disappointing when you thought you’d got a good wave and didn’t go as fast as you’d hoped.

Raising Morale

Now the rains had stopped, and the sun had returned, this gave us time to dry our things out and once again get back to normal (normal for us anyway).

I decided that I had spent far too long eating cold food so made it my purpose to boil water every day and rehydrate everyone’s meals that they’d chosen. The first hot meal I had tasted was wonderful. It was like I’d only tasted food for the first time and every spoonful was a pure taste sensation.

That simple task of heating water to make hot food had a large influence on the morale of the crew. We began making good decisions about the course with quicker changeovers, well, Jason and I did; Phil was hilariously late and lots of laughter would happen as he took over from his manservant Chris. We didn’t call him five-star Phil for nothing!

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A Rude Awakening – Phil’s Story

Around week 4 Phil and I were happily rowing in sync together and chatting where possible when Phil noticed a small green light off to our rear port side. I’ll hand over the story to Phil now…

“On my second night shift at 2am, I suddenly saw a boat’s green light really close and told Garreth who clocked that he could see it too. After only two oar strokes we could see both its navigation lights which meant it was bearing down on us, and fast!

“We had no power due to low light levels for the previous few days which meant our batteries hadn’t fully charged up, so no AIS or navigation lights were on to tell the other boat of our presence.

“Whilst the boat was bearing down on us Chris was now awake; he used his headlamp to assemble the radio. Once Garreth got the torch the radio arrived but appeared to me not to be working.

“I gave it Garreth, and I used the high-power torch to point directly at the boat – after a few long, and I mean really long, seconds the boat shone its light on us and at the same time responded to Garreth’s calm yet urgent message that they were now aware of us.

“It then sped, and I mean sped, across our stern from right to left less than 100 feet away. The captain just said we wish you luck and they were gone.”

On reflection, if we had done nothing there was a very high likelihood of a significant and catastrophic incident.

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Approaching Antigua

We have been in touch with our loved ones ensuring they have everything we need when we arrive.

Two days to go and things are feeling like they are coming to a veritable whirlwind of a conclusion.

We see Antigua for the first time at night. The bright lights are a fiery giveaway.

We can now also see the lights of other Caribbean islands and I keep checking the chart plotter to make sure we are still heading for the right island.

It makes me wonder what the mariners did long ago when approaching a new island at night.

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January 26th, 2023 – Challenge Completed

As the day breaks, we are in clear sight of Antigua and can see individual houses as we are now only eight miles or so away.

Our skipper is in touch with the race safety team who is telling us to row closer to the shore and then row parallel to it.

Around 11 am, the first other human beings we have seen since the race yacht incident arrive in the form of two Antiguan Coastguards.

They circle us for a few minutes, probably ensuring that we are OK. Then, just before they speed off, they shout “Welcome to Antigua”. Wow! For some reason that was a really emotional moment for me.

Garreth with the Rotary Club of Antigua President.

This Week - Debbie Cockrell & Richard Griffin will be talking about the expansion of a community project both within the community and outside it.

This promises to be a very interesting talk, not only because it's about engagement within the community which is often quite difficult but also about involvement of community members with Rotary.

Richard Griffin, the founder of Madame Zingara. After some travelling, Richard returned home and got his break with his own restaurant in Long Street. “It was a tiny store called Serendipity and it was based on my love for pasta. After that I opened House of Serendipity and Griffin’s, sold them and went to travel some more.” After satisfying his ever-present wanderlust he finished his degree at Le Cordon Bleu International in London before heading back home. On his return he opened the original Madame Zingara in Loop Street in 2001. The restaurant was booked out for weeks at a time. The combination of over-the-top costumes and characters, friendly service, surprising food combinations and near-obsessive attention to detail amazed and delighted the Cape. in fact he opened a number of different restaurants in Cape Town but now he has established Emzini opposite the Westdene Dam which is the focus of the community effort.....and his particular interest is the arts which Emzini supports.

Debbie Cockrell spent 15 years in the hospitality industry but then branched out into social development.. She is co-founder of Social Impact Africa which is aimed towards creating, building and participating in the ecosystem for Social entrepreneurs and Changemakers focusing on providing solutions to societal challenges and development workshops for youth in townships and grass roots organisations.

She is Chairperson of the Toy Library Association of SA and a founding Board Member of Comm-UNITY Green Projects as well as Operations Manager and Programme Co-ordinator of the Slovo Centre of Excellence.

The Slovo Centre of Excellence and Toy Library are Non Profit Organizations which aim to provide educational support based programmes through play based learning and activities to various sectors in our community. This includes Early Childhood Development, primary school aged children as well as other areas of society such as differently abled and the elderly. Connecting resources through partnerships and collaboration with like minded entities.

Next Week:  Project Meeting

Just make sure that Jim Rankin is aware that specific projects need to be on the agenda for the meeting.

Last Week:  Business Meeting & Social Breakfast

I was unable to attend either the Board Meeting or the Business Meeting last week owing to lack of electricity for roughly 70 hours which meant that even my backup systems ran out of juice!

I am delighted to see that the Board were able to sort out the calendar for June and July which I had been waiting for in order to organise speakers etc.

The Social Breakfast at Belgravia Bowls Club was a great success and saw the induction of two new members.

Will McConville and  Katlego Madihlaba.  A warm welcome to you both!  Lurking in the background are President Ron Smith and Membership Chair Andy Connold.   The Club "Jewel" has just been repatriated which is why President Ron is not wearing it.  Does that make the inductions invalid?????     

International:  Mexico

A community kitchen built by the Rotary Club of Nuevo Santander at a local school is ensuring hundreds of children have meals in low-income neighborhoods of Nuevo Laredo, a city on the U.S. border. “Most of the houses in this area do not have running water or electricity,” says Club President Jorge Tello. The club launched the $150,000 project in 2018, and the kitchen at the Comedor Santa María school began operating in August 2020; meals were first served to-go due to the COVID-19 pandemic before the dining room opened in May 2021. “Operation costs for providing breakfast and lunch for 230 children every day is $9,300 a month,” Tello says. The funds are donated by businesses and individuals. Club members supervise the operation, and Rotarians are
adding solar panels to the facility.