This was Past President Anna Sakvarelidze third district humanitarian trip. “Ecuador is a beautiful country, at least what we saw. And the people were very warm and greeted us everywhere with smiles and dancing,” said Anna. The group did many projects from bringing water systems to villages, to providing pacemakers for low-income individuals in the hospital, cleaning rivers, and investing in the future of the environment. There were also projects with local schools. “It was an amazing feeling being surrounded by people who do good and those who receive the benefits of the work Rotary does. It was wonderful being there firsthand to experience their joy,” said Anna. Click Read More to enjoy the rest of the story.
First Day: One of the first stops was a visit to the equator, where they placed one foot on the Northern Hemisphere and the other on the Southern. Then a visit with the Japanese Ambassador to Ecuador, Mr. Keiichiro Morishita, along with D4400’s DG Jose Changkuon Ayon.
Second Day: The district received a $70,000 Rotary Global Grant to purchase pacemakers for those without insurance and who needed lifesaving surgery. The pacemakers were distributed to low-income families in Quito. The group then listened to moving testimonials from three former recipients who were given a second chance. Dr. Diego Egas’ genuine commitment to helping patients was enormously touching. They truly understood the impact of this project. The next stop was thePeace Garden in Quito, where they rang the Peace Bell, which was presented to Ecuador by the International Peace Bell Association in Japan. Former Ambassador Marcelo Avila-Orejuela explained how Japan became the first country to renounce the war in their constitution after WWII.
In the afternoon the group visited Felix Hogar Senior Residential Center run by the Rotary Club of Quito Sur. The center provides one-on-one care for 37 older adults in a quiet facility with an impressive peaceful garden. The group gave the center a $5,000 cash grant, which was much appreciated by the residents! The President of the Rotary Club of Guayaquil Cerro Azul, Monica Mata Savala, gave a presentation on the Global Grant “Let’s Talk,” which is a project to train teachers who work with children with Down syndrome.
Day Three: The group first went to a school that specializes in sustainable projects and earth conservation. Students and the group joined in cleaning up a river and planting trees. They stopped at a Rotarian's home and on the 20 acres there were horses and vineyards. In the mountains near Quito, at a small school, kids received 70 Rotary backpacks, snap bracelets, and necklaces. Everyone danced and learned about how they train and educate the children with Down syndrome and learning disorders.
Next the group went to the Carlos Aguilar Cumbaya Elementary School, where a $70,000 Multi-Media Environment Protection Rotary Global Grant was presented. It was very impressive to see how the students were actively participating in recycling and cleaning the San Pedro River and learning how to protect Mother Earth. The local Chili’s Milenio Rotary Club also participated.Day Four: The day started with visiting a Down syndrome children’s school with backpacks full of school supplies then to another elementary school in mountainous San Antonio de Pasa where the school was given 20 computers and backpacks for the students. Then there was a nice dinner overlooking a million-dollar view of the entire city of Quito from 12,000 feet. The group provided a $50,000 Rotary Global Grant for water projects for eight communities. Backpacks, school supplies and trinkets were presented to more than 80 children. The entire town of Puerto Quito came out to welcome the group and they were greeted by locals and there were toasts, music, smiling faces, and lunch. (Information for the article was from DG Makiko Ogihara Nakasone’s notes.)