WASH RAG Ambassadors

swamp to collect water for their daily needs, such as washing their clothes and bathing. But on many occasions, they would have to drink this water from the swamp stream, which was the same water used to wash their motorbikes. This caused bad stomach upsets and skin conditions. A Rotary Global Grant was applied for with funding from Saltash and a Canadian Rotary club and after five years of perseverance, in 2021 the college now has a water pump that is powered by Solar Panels. This pumps water from a small stream (not the swamp) which is filtered and then stored in a huge water tank. The project also included a flushing toilet block with a shower.

The Rotary Club of Saltash Rotary Club received a letter of appreciation from the College Principal telling them how this project has transformed the lives of the students and staff. The electricity bill has been cut by 45% due to the Solar Panels.

Ambassadors – Opportunities – What’s a WASH Rotary Action Group Ambassador?

The WASH Rotary Action Group Ambassadors are a corps of knowledgeable members who provide support and promotion of the WASH goals of WASH Rotary Action Group and The Rotary Foundation. Among other things, they may help fellow Rotarians in the following ways:

1. Provide speakers for club meetings and other events. 2. Share information/needs assessment data with others to enhance the quality, relevance and sustainability of projects undertaken in their region. 3. Provide local Rotarians with access to professionals worldwide who may address their district's need for expert advice in areas such as technology, sustainability, monitoring and evaluation, etc. 4. Liaise between their district and others to create partnerships that will facilitate project development and enhance funding opportunities.

Qualifications of Ambassadors

Ambassadors are volunteer members of WASH Rotary Action Group and have a passion of WASH programs. They maintain a five-year membership in WASH Rotary Action Group. They must be able to communicate easily and be respected by Rotarians within their District.

Activities of Ambassadors

Ambassadors are charged with promoting effective and sustainable Rotary water, sanitation and hygiene projects in their regions. To this end they may engage in the following activities as well as others relevant to the goals of the corps.

• Encourage and facilitate WASH Rotary Action Group memberships • Develop and promote a “Speakers’ Bureau” to provide speakers for club meetings and district events. • Encourage local activities within their region that will promote the objectives of WASH Rotary Action

Group and WASH initiatives.

• Develop and maintain liaisons with municipal authorities, NGOs and other partners to support local clubs in developing sustainable projects through partnerships with these entities. • Act as a conduit between WASH Rotary Action Group and their local clubs to provide the most current information about Rotary WASH related initiatives and objectives, e.g. posting articles in their district and club newsletters and alerting local Rotarians to upcoming Rotary webinars. • Encourage resources within their region to engage in various Rotary and WASH Rotary Action Group pursuits; e.g., sustainable water, sanitation and behavior change initiatives. • Disseminate information/needs assessment data about their region to others in Rotary in the effort to enhance the quality, relevance and sustainability of projects undertaken in their region. • Identify individual Rotarians in their region that may support Rotary and WASH Rotary Action Group initiatives, in activities such as grant development, project review, school certification application scoring, project enhancement activities, etc. • Reporting Responsibilities

Ambassadors are required to submit an annual activity report in May of each year for presentation at the Annual General Meeting held during the Rotary International Convention.

For your interest, WASH Ambassadors near us include:

Name District

Gary Sobotta

Ron Arkell District 6380

Michigan and Southwest Ontario District 6400

Southeast Michigan and Southwest Ontario

The 50 Rotary Clubs are in the heartland of North America demonstrating the very best that both countries have to offer. The District is joined by the very busy Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit/Canada Tunnel, and can be traveled within two hours from one end to the other end. Location

Michigan, USA

Ontario, Canada

Aldo Villanovich

Bruce Lindsey We are more than 50 clubs and over 1500 members throughout Southwestern Ontario Canada. We are dedicated people who share a passion for both community service and friendship. District 9980 The District appears to be in New Zealand. Ontario, Canada

eClubs

Gary Sobotta - the District 6380's Water Ambassador, became interested in water projects through one of the Vision for Clean Water's workshops. He managed a Global Grant that facilitated and trained 10 rural Ecuadorian communities to install a total of 654 bio-sand filters in 634 households and 20 schools. See his slide presentation to the left.

District 6380 is involved in a $4 million collaboration with USAID to provide water and latrines in six regions of Ghana. See details in Gary's presentation that can be found on the website below.

Click here to read more about this connection.

Ron Arkell - is a Past President of Rotary Club of Windsor in District 6400.

Aldo Villanovich - is Director of International Service for District 7080.

Bruce Lindsey - is a Hydrologist at U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Bruce is a member of the Rotary E-Club of WASH, District 9980 (Water and Sanitation Rotary Action Group) and he’s a member of Toastmasters, International. T he club members focus on WASH-related projects in impact areas that span the globe, and members are able to share best practices and other resources with each other and other Rotary clubs.

The Rotary Club of WASH has endeavored to take on a comprehensive WASH in SCHOOLS (WinS) project and Global Grant through the Rotary Foundation and Rotary District 9980. Rotary E-Club of WASH is a Rotary e-club that is focused on global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). The e-club format provides the fellowship of a community of professionals with a common interest in WASH issues.

Click here to read more about the Rotary WASH E-Club.