Latrines Project Completed in Malawi

ImageNearly 8,400 school children in four villages in Malawi will benefit from the construction of four new latrines for boys and girls at their schools, thanks to the Plaza Rotary Club, Malawi Children's Village (MCV), the Rotary Club of Limbe, and The Rotary Foundation.  Construction was completed shortly before the end of June.  The latrines not only improve the health and sanitation conditions at the schools, but they also help improve education because children (especially the girls) are more likely to attend school where there are adequate toilets. 

The latrines ended up costing just over $7,500, instead of the $7,162 that had been projected, because of an unfavorable currency exchange rate.  The Plaza Club contributed roughly $4,500 to the project, much of that coming from the Texas Hold 'em Poker Tournament last fall.  District 6040 approved a District Simplified Grant (DSG) for $2,662 for the project.  Funding for DSGs comes from contributions made by District 6040 Rotarians to The Rotary Foundation.  (For more photos, see the "Malawi Latrines Project" Photo Album in the left panel.)

The project was spearheaded by the International Service Committee, chaired in 2012-13 by Koji Watanabe.  He received a big assist from Bill Schmidt, a member of the Board of Directors of MCV, and numerous Plaza Rotarians who supported the fundraising efforts and made signs for the latrines. Congratulations, Plaza Rotarians, for a job well done!