International Service

RAWCS CAPE YORK SHELTER PROJECT

There has been a sudden and very welcome change in the programming of this project. Approval is in hand for construction, through September to November 2006, of shelters at 5 sites. Volunteers are sought for this work.

Volunteers will need to find their way to and from Cairns. From Cairns they will be transported to and from the site by Balkanu, camping facilities will be provided and food supplied by the recipient families. Locals will work with our teams.

The shelters are of steel frame construction.

David Barkley of the R C of Geelong is co-ordinating teams.
His contact details are dbarkley@barwonwater.vic.gov.au
Tel: H 52223378
W 52269140
M 0417310197

For more information contact David or John Steven

WHY SHOULD WE HELP EAST TIMOR

Some Rotarians and others are asking "Why should we give more to East Timor?
They have had their chance."
The answer to give comes in three parts. East Timor has been oppressed for 500 years, first by Portugal, then Japan and then Indonesia. In WWII, 40,000 Timorese lost their lives because of their support for Australian commandos working behind enemy lines.

Australia was the only country to recognise the Indonesian annexation of East Timor. Another 200,000 lives were lost during their rule. Very few East Timorese were trained for any administrative post in that time, so that no experienced people were ready to help govern the country.

Expatriates, who did not undergo the same oppression returned after independence and took the top jobs. Many Timorese are still asking for justice which may never happen. A survey of over 1000 families, published in "The Lancet", a highly reputable medical journal, in 2000 found that 12% had lost children to political violence, 22% had witnessed the murder of friends or relatives, 39% had been tortured and 33% were classified as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Add to that, an unemployment rate of over 70%. I believe we would have riots in any city in Australia, given those circumstances. "Why should we continue to give help?" Because they need it!

The School of St Jude: Fighting Poverty through Education

Message from the Founder of St Jude School, Arusha Tanzania

I knew you would be dying to hear the latest on the land appeal – especially as it is such exciting news! We made a down payment on the most magnificent 30 acres of land for the 2nd or 3rd school campus, which we will build in a few years time.

Luckily the land owner is allowing us to pay off the amount of US$250,000 over the next 12 months. And this is where you came in! We offered you the chance to help us out by ‘purchasing’ a part of the land – 30 square metres for AU$100 or 40 square yards for US$100.

We were so excited and overwhelmed by the response! So far we have had 174 donors from around the world pledge a total of US $165,000 !

This is past the halfway point already – only US$85,000 to go! I say ‘only’ but that is still a huge sum of money to raise. But we have lots of beautiful blocks of land left so it’s not too late to join the team and ‘own’ your piece of The School of St Jude – Usa River campus.

Thank you so much for helping to make a difference to so many children’s futures.

Gemma Sisia, St Jude

The Rotary Club of Camberwelll has donated money to assist St Jude in their development

Tsunami relief in Sri Lanka

Members will be aware of the generous donation by our Club and District, supported by a personal donation of three of our Club members for tsunami relief in Sri Lanka, working in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Colombo Uptown.

In August members of this Club visited the Tegalle Hospital, which was devastated by the tsunami.

President Manoji officially commissioned the Mortuary.

This renovation and the supply of coolers was made possible by our Club and the banner of our Club was on display.

In addition to this reconstruction, projects which our combined donations assisted were as follows:

School uniforms to theAl Aqsa School
Books for Udayapurma Primary School
Books for Jaffna School
Sporting equipment for Al Aqsa
Rotary Centre to address Avoidable blindness
Assistance for an Interact weekend.
Assistance for the Cancer Hospital.

All expenditure has been detailed and receipted.

This has been a most rewarding program, the cooperation of the members of Colombo Uptown the key factor. Let us hope we can continue our association with this Club.

Thank you to our Members