Doing good in the community is the main reason most join Rotary and there is never a lack of projects in the club and out in the wider Rotary world that people can become involved in. No experience needed, just enthusiasm.
The following is a few pictures from a recent Pacific project followed by a description. This serves as an example of what can be done through Rotary.
.jpg) |  | .jpg) |
.jpg) |  |  |
The team from St Johns Rotary (Auckland) travelled to Taveuni Island to work alongside community members under the supervision of the Rotary Club of Taveuni Island to complete a Teachers house. The pictures above (clockwise from top left) show the team (Donald, David, Ainie, Penny and Aubrey) on arrival with three of the local builders, the location amid the palms, the house they mainly worked on (note the trailer), Donald with the support equipment trailer well-sign written as all Rotary projects should be, Immediate Past President Aine (left) and Team Leader Penny painting, Aubrey (great cap!) sawing architraves that were being installed by David and Donald (out of sight).
The following is a recont of their experience:
Penny lead the St Johns Rotary 'Team Tavenui' report back saying it was an amazing experience to spend a week on Tavenui Island doing something practical and important for the community.
A few facts: Tavenui Island is the third largest Fijian island with a population of 9,00o people. It has incredibly poor infrastructure, which has no power supply (generator only) and no reticulated water system. The Island is very vulnerable to natural disasters still evidenced in the devastation caused by Cyclone Winston in February 2016 where many of the dwellings remain as shanty buildings. Nevertheless, Penny said the people have a happy and simple life.
An incredible achievement by the Rotary Club of Tavenui is from July 2016 to June 2017 they funded $650,000 worth of projects ranging from painting teachers’ quarters to providing Taveuni Eye project, all supported by a very dedicated and productive team of local people. In turn this also provided the opportunity for the locals to learn new skills on the job. Penny said each two-bedroom house costs $47k and nothing is wasted so brown tiles are used in the bathrooms, kitchen benchtops, floors and walls and green paint is the only colour choice for housing painting.
It was also mentioned that the pupils of South Vuna Primary School are still being taught in large white tents. So going forward, the challenge from the Team is what St John’s Club can do to help support the people of Tavenui Island.
The team of Ainie, Audrey, David, Donald and Penny individually acknowledged the experience as remarkable and humbling and has no doubt changed their lives forever. They were particularly inspired by the unrelenting drive and devotion of Geoff and his fellow Rotarian's.