Rotary Club of Marco Noontime Support International Clean Water Projects

The Rotary Club of Marco Island Noontime recently hosted International Day at their luncheon meeting at the historic Bistro Soleil. Guest Speakers included John Smarge, award-winning Rotarian, Dr. Brad Habermehl, Optometrist and leader of Avoidable Blindness in Mexico, and Jennifer Jones, Rotary International President, speaking on Gift of Life (heart surgeries for children) via big screen. These are just a few of the international humanitarian projects the Noontime Rotary Club supports.

John Smarge opened the program by sharing the amazing impact The Rotary Foundation has on the world in the seven areas of focus: Peace, Disease Prevention and Treatment, Water and Sanitation, Maternal and Child Health, Environmental Protection, Education and Literacy, and Economic and Community Development. 

Smarge is the founding member of HANWASH (Haiti National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Initiative) which was established in 2018. Sadly, Haiti suffers from extreme poverty, gangs, hunger, and a corrupt government. Rotary takes a business approach to HANWASH, first gathering data, next gaining the communities’ approval, then finally completing the sustainable action plan. In addition to Rotary, donor organizations include the World Bank, US Aid… DINEPA is the regulatory body in Haiti for providing water and sewer- it is not governmental. 

To date, 50% of the country is mapped with existing water services and whether the water is good or bad. Rotary must first have partnerships with the local communities to set up the public utilities company and train the locals to implement it. The end goal is for every family in Haiti to have access to clean water. Our Rotary District started this outstanding humanitarian project, and the Noontime Club was one of the first contributors. In addition, our club supports a similar water project in Peru along with other clubs in the District.

For more information about the HANWASH project and how you can contribute, or for more information about the Rotary Club of Marco Island Noontime, please contact Linda Sandlin at 239-777-9200 or linda@marcorealtysoruce.com.