The 2017-18 and the 2018-19 Rotary Mission Trips and Projects – By Chris Parkinson

Over the last seventeen years, Rotary District 7870 (59 Rotary Clubs in Southern NH and Southern VT) have had 28 mission trips and provided aid to Honduras which is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere. Twenty (22) trips to Danli and Six (6) to San Pedro Sula. Amigos De Honduras is a program of the Rotary District 7870 Foundation which is a non-profit corporation and one of the trustees of the foundation, PDG Chris Parkinson, heads up the activities of Amigos De Honduras. Since 2001, Amigos De Honduras has concentrated its efforts in four areas:

Medical Care - We have seen approximately 26,000 medical and dental patients.

Medical Equipment and Supplies o Over 12.5 Tons of Medical Supplies Transported by Team Members o 7 – 40’ Containers of Medical Equipment & Supplies o 3 Ambulances shipped

School Construction & Education – We have constructed 8 schools, expanded 3 schools, and converted 2 other buildings into schools. We have repaired and painted 18 schools, and we have worked on a youth center and a drug rehabilitation facility. We have also provided school uniforms to over 300 students – which are required for children to attend school.

Pure Water - Working with another 501c3 Rotary partner, Pure Water for the World, we have installed or funded over 11,000 water filters which provide clean water to more than 55,000 people. We have also provided wells and latrines to several villages.

Summary

District 7870 has developed an excellent track record over the past 17 years and, as noted above, has accomplished a great deal. Amigos De Honduras is grateful to those that have funded and have participated on these Mission trips which include Rotary Clubs, individual Rotarians, friends of Rotarians, Concord Hospital, the Hampton Inn in Bow, and businesses in the NH and VT region. One of the founders and the soul of this effort was Mary Crooker, from Nashua, who had been on 23 of the mission trips. In 2015, Mary unfortunately died of ALS and the Rotarians in Danli named a school in her honor. Mary’s spirit lives on in everything we do.

2018 Mission Trip The 2018 Mission trip was scheduled to be going to Danli, Honduras on February 3, 2018. But, due to unrest in Honduras, the Rotary Club of Danli advised us to cancel the trip. The team of 26 people was to have been led by Bob Couch, Chris Parkinson, and Dave Lawrence. Fortunately, most all of the 26 people that were to be on the team were able to get their airfare returned to them or received a credit for a future trip from the airlines. Most of the team had also paid their fee of $125 – and many of these were refunded, but several others were donated to future endeavors. Despite having to cancel the trip, it was decided that the planned construction of the school would go forward. Funds had already been wired to the Danli Rotary Club in the amount of $16,800 which consisted of $14,000 for projects and $2,800 for student scholarships.

Zaragoza Jamastran School – Initial Construction 2017-2018 Rotary Year Though the team did not make the trip to Danli, the Danli Rotarians contracted with a local builder to undertake its construction and a great deal was accomplished in the 2017 – 2018 Rotary year as you can see from the pictures below:

2019 Mission Trip Discussions with Danli Rotarians leading up to the trip indicated that they believed it safe to resume mission trips to Danli. Though it should be emphasized, that we took the usual safety precautions to ensure, as much as possible, the overall safety of the team. Chris Parkinson led the overall team. Bob Couch and Dave Lawerence, who have extensive experience in leading the construction efforts, led the School Project. Tony Gilmore, took the lead on the Pure Water and Sanitation Project. Dr. Doug Dreffer agreed to lead the medical team and Jim Wright a Dentist and a Rotarian from Fairhaven took the lead with respect to the Dental brigade. Contributors and the team members of the 2019 Mission were as follows.

Rotary District 7870 Foundation – 2019 Amigos De Honduras

Recognition of 2019 Contributors

Henniker Rotary Club Concord Rotary Club Gilford Rotary Club

Laconia Rotary Club Wallingford Rotary Club Bow Rotary Club

Tony Gilmore Jessica and Scott Weller Ken and Ruth Grabeau

Gerry Carrier Dianne and Randell Barclay David Gazaway

NE Delta Dental Ben and Tammy Kiniry The Hampton Inn

William Chen Joseph Mitchell Chris Parkinson Michelle Ritz

2019 Team Members

Esdras Almeida David & Nadena Ament Dianne and Randell Barclay

Bob Couch Doug Dreffer Tony Gilmore

Kell Giffin Amy Healey David Lawrence

Kaleigh Lessieur Jim Magennis Shannon Mills

Chris Parkinson Ashley Smith Tosh Stickney

Kathie Stone Lorrie Vanni Jim Wright

Zaragoza Jamastran School – Completion 2018 – 2019 Rotary Years Rotarian Adolfo Sevilla was in charge of the Project and Carlos Castillo, the 2017-18 Club President, as well as Rosendo Contreras, the 2018-19 Club President have been overseeing the Project. Ricardo Arias, Raul Sevilla, and Pamela Duarte, the Club Treasurer, also provided the financial update that appears below.

Project Team Leaders - Bob Couch and Dave Lawrence

Zaragoza School Project (Continued) School Project Team members varied each of the six days to allow as many as possible to participate and to allow for the staffing of the Pure Water and Sanitation Team. In addition to Bob and Dave, others participating included Dave and Dena Ament, Dianne and Randell Barclay, Amy Healey, Chris Parkinson, Ashley Smith, Tosh Stickney, and Kathie Stone.

Picture of the school from the back Tosh Stickney painting the classroom

Rotarians: Dave Ament on ladder Dave Lawrence, Ricardo Arias, Adolfo Sevilla, Chris Parkinson, Raul Sevilla, and Bob Couch

Medical and Dental Team

Team Leaders Doug Dreffer MD and Jim Wright DMD

Team traveled to different communities per the following schedule:

Date Community Danli Rotarian In charge # Patients Seen

Sunday Feb 10th Argelia Erika Blanco 80 Medical 42 Dental

Mon 11 San Julian Alexis M. 228 Medical 43 Dental

Tue 12 Camelias Adolfo Sevilla 282 Medical 47 Dental

Wed 13 San Marcos Ricardo Arias 361 Medical 44 Dental

Thur 14 Los Robles Raul Sevilla 342 Medical 49 Dental

Friday 15 Teupasenti Marvin and Team Delivered Medical Supplies

Totals 1,393 Medical 225 Dental for Total of 1,618

Medical Team Leader Dr. Doug Dreffer Dental Team Leader Rotarian Jim Wright With Esdras Almeida and Lorrie Vanni Medical and Dental Team members varied each of the six days to allow as many as possible to participate in different activities and to allow for the staffing of the Pure Water and Sanitation Team. In addition to Dr. Doug Dreffer, Dr. Jim Wright, Dr. Kell Giffen, Dr. Shannon Mills, Nurse Midwife Amy Healey, Esdras Almeida, Lorrie Vanni, Kathie Stone, and Kayleigh Lessieur others participating included Dave and Dena Ament, Dianne and Randell Barclay, Ashley Smith, Jim Magennis, and PDG Tony Gilmore.

Medical and Dental Team (Continued)

Dental team Members Kayleigh Lessieur & Dr. Shannon Mills Crowd waiting to be seen in Argelia

Medical Team Members Dr. Kell Giffen of Wallingford, VT and Nurse Midwife Amy Healey of Hillsboro, NH

Medical Team Members Medical and Dental team with Danli Rotarian Marvin Kathie Stone, Dr. Kell Giffen, Delivering Medical Supplies to Teupasenti and Dena Ament

Pure Water and Sanitation Team Project Team Leader – Tony Gilmore Water and Sanitation Team members varied each of the three days to allow as many as possible to participate. In addition to Tony, others participating included Dave and Dena Ament, Dianne and Randell Barclay, Dave Lawrence, Kayleigh Lessieur, Jim Magennis, Chris Parkinson Ashley Smith, Tosh Stickney, and Jim Wright. We were assisting the Pure Water for the World team. Annette Butty, a PWW Intern wrote the following article:

Written by: Annette Butty, PWW Honduras Intern La Jagua is a village located about one hour, by truck, from Danlí, a small city in southern Honduras. Forty students, ages 5 to 15, attend the local school, Escuela Pedro Nufio. Anna is the teacher of Escuela Pedro Nufio and is responsible for educating all 40 children in the school. Until very recently, the only water point of the school was a well with a hand pump. Students had to pump water for 15 minutes to fill a 20 liter bucket. They used bucket after bucket of contaminated water for drinking, as well as cleaning the blackboard and the classroom. Students also had to carry heavy water buckets from the well to the latrines, located on the opposite side of the school playground. A year ago, the Community Health Center of La Jagua reported many cases of diarrhea, with some cases of children diagnosed with hepatitis. The situation in La Jagua was identified as “critical”, in dire need of safe water and sanitation solutions. To support the health and wellbeing of the children of La Jagua, the teacher and parents came to Pure Water for the World to collaborate and focus on what could be done to improve the health situation at the school. Last month, the Pure Water for the World team came, along with amazing volunteers, to implement a comprehensive safe WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) program at Escuela Pedro Nufio. Thanks to funding provided by Rotary District 7870 (southern NH & VT) and a group of volunteers from the United States that have become well-known as The Amigos De Honduras, a biosand water filter was installed in the school’s classroom and three latrines, with five taps in the hand-washing station, were constructed. What’s more, an electric generator was installed to pump the water from the well. Now, it takes only ten minutes to fill the 400 liter water tank!

Rotarians Pictured: Dave Lawrence, Dave Ament, Tony Gilmore, Dave Lawrence, & Ashley Smith

Pure Water and Sanitation Team (Continued)

Team Members Pictured: Tony Gilmore, Jim Wright, Randell Barclay, Dianne Barclay, Kayleigh Lessieur, Jim Magennis

PDG Parkinson with children of La Jagua Escuapa and with Ashley Smith, Tosh Stickney and Jim Magennis in the presentation of school supplies

Student Scholarships Amigos De Honduras is supporting two students at the Catholic University in Danli. The two students are:

Luisa Silva

Rafael Arturo Hernandez Zepeda The scholarship commitment is to pay 50% of the tuition costs as long as they maintain good grades. Both students are doing well. During the 2019 Mission Trip, Chris Parkinson and Dave Lawrence met with the Dean of Students at the Catholic University, Victor Fernandez, and received an excellent report on both students. They then arranged to meet both students for dinner and, though language created something of a barrier. You can see from the following messages that this meeting was a success. (Both students used Google Translate and sent these emails after we had met for dinner.) From Rafael Chris I arrived home a couple of hours ago, I want first of all to thank you again for everything you do for me, for giving me your help, but above all for your friendship. It was very exciting and joyful to meet you in person and share with you on this day, I know it will be the first of many more …

From Luisa David, Really it was a great pleasure to have been yesterday sharing a little time with you, I do not lie at the beginning I felt a little sorry because I did not know how to express myself. But in the end it was a pleasant moment to be with such extraordinary people as you. Thanks for the support you give us for our education and to be able to become professionals helping our country. Thanks again for allowing us to move forward as young People wanting to fulfill our purposes. Now I have your email and I can write to you often to tell you about the progress in college…

Chris Parkinson, Rafael, Luisa, and Dave Lawrence

2017 - 2018 – Financial Summary Summary of Danli Rotary Club Expenditures (Funded by Amigos De Honduras): BEGINNING BALANCE AT JULY 2017– IN DANLI U$. 3,585.39 Misc. Expenses U$ (972.83) Wire from Dist. 7870 Foundation in December U$ 16,800.00 School Construction Costs – Zaragoza School U$ (4,024.00) Scholarship – Tuition Payments U$ (3,208.76) BEGINNING BALANCE AT JULY 2018 – IN DANLI U$. 12,179.80 School Construction Costs - Danli Vendors for Zaragoza School U$ (6,707.02) School Construction Costs - Zaragoza Vendors U$ (6,100.00) Cash Provided by C. Parkinson from Amigos Advance U$ 1,000.00

Wire from Dist. 7870 Foundation in February U$ 4,000.00 Other Expenditures – Tuition Payments, Transportation of Team, etc. U$ (1,511.53) ENDING BALANCE AT MAY 31, 2019 – IN DANLI U$. 2,861.25

Summary of Revenue and Expenditures: 2017 – 2018 (Per District 7870 Foundation) Ending Fund Balance – June 2017: $ 14,906.52 Revenue: Donations $ 3,700.50 Club Donations 750.00 Team Member Fees 0.00 Interest .86

Total Revenue $ 4,451.36

Expenditures:

Transfer to Danli $ 16,800.00 Misc. Expenses Wire Fee 25.00 Total Expenditures $ 16,825.00

Ending Fund Balance – June 2018** $ 2,532.88

**Breakdown:

Medical Team $ 2,084.59 Unrestricted 448.29 Scholarships 0.00

Summary of Revenue and Expenditures: 2018 – 2019 (Per District 7870 Foundation) Ending Fund Balance – June 2017: $ 2,532.88 Revenue: Donations $ 8,024.92 Club Donations 2,375.00 Team Member Fees 2,025.00 Interest 0.00

Total Revenue $ 12,424.92

Expenditures:

Transfer to Danli Rotary $ 4,000.00 Cash Provided to Danli Rotary by C. Parkinson 1,000.00 Funds provided to Pure Water For The World 4,075.00 Travel and In-country Expenses 1,801.24 Medical Supplies 601.41 Wire Fees 90.00 Total Expenditures $ 11,567.65

Ending Fund Balance – June 2018** $ 3,390.15

**Breakdown:

Medical Team $ 0.00 Unrestricted 3,390.15 Scholarships 0.00

PURE WATER FOR THE WORLD: PROPOSAL For La Jagua Escuapa

Project Statistics Amount

Communities 1

School 1

School population 40

School filters 1

School handwashing station 1

Water piping per school and generator to pump water 1

School latrines 3

School workshops 3

Project Budget Vendor Unit Price Contribution

Materials and Supplies

1.1 School filter $80.00 $80.00

1.2 School buckets $21.00 $21.00

1.3 Handwashing Station $185.00 $185.00

1.4 Water piping for school and generator to pump water $500.00 $500.00

1.5 Gender specific latrines $180.00 $540.00

Total Materials & Supplies $1,326.00

Operations and Other

Costs

3.1 Project logos for filters PWW $2.50 $2.50

3.2 Cell phone service ( consulting support with teachers) TIGO $100.00 $25.00

3.3 Office supplies PWW $100.00 $25.00

Total Operations $52.50

Transportation

4.1

Transportation of materials from Tegucigalpa/Danli-

Prorated PWW $10.00 $40.00

4.2 Truck rental PWW $1,500.00 $150.00

4.3 Truck and motorcycle fuel PWW $450.00 $225.00

4.4 Motorcycle rental PWW $250.00 $62.50

Total Transportation $477.50

Education and training

5.1 Instructional stickers and posters for filter users PWW $5.00 $5.00

5.2 Training materials for school workshops PWW $15.00 $45.00

5.3 Monitoring of school and followup visits with teachers $100.00

5.4 Training for teachers ( 3 days) PWW $150.00 $150.00

5.7 Hygiene kits for Schools PWW $100.00 $100.00

$0.00

Total Education and Training $400.00

Personnel Costs

6.1 Health Promoter PWW $540.00 $405.00

6.2 Health Promoter PWW $540.00 $405.00

6.3 Trojes Project Manager PWW $1,500.00 $600.00

Total Personnel Costs $1,410.00

Subtotal $3,666.00

7.1

Project Management (Adjustment to this amount agreed

to by Carolyn Meub) $334.00

Transportation Costs of Amigos Team 5 Members for 2

Days $70.00

TOTAL

Project Total request $4,070.00

Revenue to fund PWW

Project

A Tony Gilmore $1,000.00

B Ken Grabeau $500.00

C Gilford Rotary Club $500.00

D Bow Rotary Club $500.00

E Randell Barclay $500.00

F Dave Gazaway $250.00

G Laconia Rotary Club $50.00

H Michelle Ritz - New London Rotary $25.00

I Bow Rotary Club Members - Christmas Fundraiser $151.00

J Joseph Mitchell $100.00

K A Portion of the Henniker Club's donation of $1,000 $494.00

L

M

Project Funding Total $4,070.00

The 2019 Amigos Team