Photos | Fremantle Rotary – Making a Difference

STORY TIME! In February this year, the Mama Respond Board sat around my dining table and wondered what we had got ourselves into. We knew we’d bitten off more than we could chew, and COVID’s effect on our world was finally taking its toll on our passion. Society tightened the purse strings, community needs shifted, and we were tired.

We thought we’d build what we could with the money we had, then move on to another project and possibly return to our giant special needs unit later.

Then our borders finally opened, and the Board quickly sent me to Kenya to lay some important foundations and get eyes on the ground. We built a well-rounded Kenyan Board, pushed important administrative papers through, and connected with some fantastic Rotarians from Rotary Club Of Embakasi, Stoni Athi and Kitengela.

Thanks to Chris Whelan and Applecross Rotary, and on-the-ground liaising, we were granted a Global Grant from the Rotary Foundation to build the only ambulant toilet block in Kitengela. Things were starting to look up.

But I wasn’t quite satisfied enough. We had applied for a grant from DFAT, which was declined. Eager to understand why I met with the powers that be. Let’s just say I don’t take no for an answer, and we were soon granted significant funds to build the special needs unit. Combined with our own fundraising efforts and our joint fundraiser with Fremantle Rotary, we suddenly had the money to build the WHOLE UNIT.

From a bare field, we now have flooring, walls, roofing, tiling - spaces to learn, cook, eat, and build community.

Now were on the tail end of building the only comprehensive special needs unit in Kitengela, which will be handed over in the coming weeks. What a turnaround from the sad meeting we had in February.

It’s been an incredible collaborative journey between countries, rotary clubs, people and businesses. What a way to end the year.

Erin

Emilia Saunders Julie Hegarty Brendan Hegarty Damian Hegarty @michaelsmith

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Incredible indeed. Thank you and be blessed abundantly to continue touching more lifes.

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Our new meeting place at the old courthouse where we have been made to feel very welcome #infreo#oldcourthousefremantle

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Great! See you there sometime.

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International Micro Finance Loans
Things Do Not Always Go as Planned
The Covid-19 crisis has impacted the ability of some borrowers to repay their loans. Fremantle Rotary contributed to a loan for a kiln to produce ceramic water filters in Cambodia. 3,372 lenders brought this project to reality, so the financial risk to each is small. If this loan is not ultimately able to be repaid, the contribution to sanitation and water quality in Cambodia is a worthy enterprise to receive the loan as a donation.

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International Micro Finance Loans
Freo Rotary is supporting individuals and community groups in under-developed countries with financial support to improve their situation through their own initiative and hard work. The financial risk to Fremantle Rotary is small because the total value of each loan is shared between multiple lenders. However, the impact of the loans to the recipients can be life-changing.
We have so far supported 24 loans in 18 countries. Pauline from Burkina Faso has been a shopkeeper in a local neighbourhood for more than seven years. She is the mother of three children, two of whom go to school. She borrowed to buy 65 sacks of peanuts to sell in her community shop. She was able to fully repay the loan and also return a small amount of money to her business. She supports her family and provides an essential service to her community

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Well done to all involved 👏

Thanks Nola Beringer

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Freo Rotary supports International Micro Finance Loans.
Supporting individuals and community groups in under-developed countries with financial support to improve their situation through their own initiative and hard work. The financial risk to Fremantle Rotary is small because the total value of each loan is shared between multiple lenders. However, the impact of the loans to the recipients can be life-changing.
We have so far supported 24 loans in 18 countries. Pauline from Burkina Faso has been a shopkeeper in a local neighbourhood for more than seven years. She is the mother of three children, two of whom go to school. She borrowed to buy 65 sacks of peanuts to sell in her community shop. She was able to fully repay the loan and also return a small amount of money to her business. She supports her family and provides an essential service to her community

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At our last meeting Max introduced our guest speaker, MICHELLE GREENWOOD, the Foundation President of the organisation ‘Living with Invisible Illnesses’. Michelle has been a driving force behind this organisation which aims for greater government recognition and
support for sufferers of illnesses such as Fibromyalgia which are very debilitating, but not necessarily visible conditions.
Michelle was approached by the Rockingham Council to start the Foundation and has created a support network for people living with invisible illness. The group currently has around 2,500 members and all helpers are volunteers [including Michelle].

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Whats on.....
LEGO EXPO
Fremantle Rotary are hosting a Lego Brick competition at Richmond Primary in East Fremantle on July 10th.
It’s a fundraiser for their Rotary club, open to kids under 12 and their Lego-mad parents/older siblings.
More info @ www.fremantlerotary.org/projects/bricklegends

#whatsonlocallyaustralia

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Cassie Wiltschut

Should be great fun

We’re so disappointed this has been cancelled! Any chance it could be held another time? The kids were incredibly excited and I think you have a fabulous idea there!

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A big thank you to Fremantle Primary School for their contributions toward Rotary Give a Damn Give a Can campaign. Max from Fremantle Rotary presented a certificate of appreciation to the principal at their morning assembly. It was dress like a pirate day which made the assembly a very colourful event #infreo#freomassive#fremantlestory#freo

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Well done

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A helping hand for much needed research projects run by the Spinnaker Foundation. The money was raised at the Rotary Clubs annual golf day. Pictured are Kim, Adam Max and Lyn from Freo Rotary handing over the cheque to Sarah from the Foundation #infreo#spinnakerfoundation #freomassive #fremantleherald #freo

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Funds donated to Spinnakers totalled $24,800. A great effort by Freo Rotary

What a fantastic result, well done everyone involved 👏

Well done members of Fremantle Rotary

We’ll done !

Well done.

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Myanmar Migrants Computer Project
This Fremantle Rotary project aims to provide computers to the Marist centre in Thailand for use by children of Myanmar migrants who have no rights to an education in Thailand and in fact are arrested if found out on the streets. The Marist centres provide an educational opportunity for these children, and the computers will provide an opportunity for improved learning and the ability to develop much needed computer skills for both the children and their parents, which will improve future opportunities.

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We are very delighted to be joining Mama Respond and the Fremantle Rotary this Friday evening at Gloucester Park to support a cause that is very close to our hearts.

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