Bob’s Rotary Africa Blog 157
05-20-2013
The Case for the Dambwa North Rotary Park in Livingstone Zambia Since I came to Zambia in early 2006 the potentiality of the children struck me most as something I would like to help make a significant contribution to. Well in life there is success and not. Distributing mosquito nets to children in schools along with dictionaries some clothing and medicines was very satisfying for the Rotarians I worked with in Africa & in the countries that supported projects I worked on. The HIV/AIDS Hospice/Clinic was most significant contribution to children, I worked on. It is a success because Rotary has filled a significant need, serving an area that had no local health care prior to the addition of the clinic in 2012 thanks to Rotary lobbying Government to participate.. As a famous person once said “Mission Accomplished.” On the other hand we have the Rotary Park, as I stated earlier the condition of the children hit home to me the most. No parks and virtually no place to play games let alone organized games anywhere but the streets, Unsafe, un paved, muddy, dusty it was not a pretty picture. Early on local citizens and Rotarians suggested building a park within Rotary guidelines. It was during the Bush administration and Laura Bush had backed a unique merry-go-round water pump plus water storage tank as a USAID project. Unfortunately the UN and local African nations did not like the project for political & child labor issues. The US was stuck with some systems. Rotary stepped in & help rescued these already tax-payer paid for units. Rotary drilled the wells for at least 6 “play-pumps: in Zambia. Rotarians saved their own tax tax dollars. We working with the city and and a local community group in a poorer area township of Livingstone called Dambwa North, The City gave the land to the local community helped by Rotary and a grant was written supported by the Danville-Sycamore and Monarch Beach Rotary Clubs in CA for $25,000. USAID put in the play pump and the tower and tank and Rotary put in the well. This was in 2008. Here it is 2013 and we are still not finished. A local tavern owner enjoined the Rotary Club and the City from completing the ablution block, toilet shower and storage building by claiming that some City official had given her the land .We did not give up. Rotarians throughout Zambian told us to put up a block wall demarcating the property lines and Rotarians in four countries contributed to build the 7 foot high fence, We continued to put in the football “soccer field” with the help of staff and Rotarians in Evanston some member of the Rotary soccer club to put in the grass goals and provided for balls. The Danville CA Rotary Club provided uniforms and the field was opened. Since then we have put up a basketball/volleyball/netball court and a sand volleyball court. Many Rotarians have already contributed to the $20,000 need to get the park finished with water and a total boundry fence. The planned MG ablution block has been on hole and in the 4 years since funding the cost of building has risen so funds recently raised will help finish the park. The Rotary Foundation allowied individuals to contribute to the Matching Grant and receive credit towards their Rotary giving record. Carol Jones of Blue Mound Ill has contributed $4500 towards this, Danville-Sycamore contributed another $1000, Newport Irvine just gave $2500.ated. We are already halfway to the $20,000 goal.
My stirring of the pot has yielded a major meeting with the park committee & our attorney. The City has not aggressively pursued the mater as a priority. Since the Rotary Club is named in the injunction to stop work on the park the Club decided to pay the additional filing fees as Elias Mutale, attorney is doing this pro bono. I suggested severing the contested area into 3 separate court viewed items. Two landowners are expected to sign off shortly allowing us to construct the ablution block. The tavern owner may proceed to hearing but her piece is not vital to complete the park Finally we see light at the end of the tunnel and the great possibility of completion in 2013,
Contact Bob Selinger USA (949)887-3266 E-mail: bobselinger46@gmail.com or bobselinger;on; skype . Some Rotarians have reported that emails to me are being rejected by the server. Please use alternate email address: bobselinger46@gmail.com. Please let me know what you or your Club may be interested in supporting. Thank you all for your continued support!! More at :www.NI-Rotary.org, www.fb.com/NI.Rotary