Westfield/Mayville Rotary Club members Susan Hammond and her husband, James Wakeman, are preparing for a 10-day trip to Niger, with a specific purpose in mind.
"This is a humanitarian mission for the purpose of seeing firsthand the positive effects to the people in the villages where the two water wells sponsored by the Westfield/Mayville Rotary Club and other Rotary groups have been installed," according to Ms. Hammond, club president. "There are 30 water wells being installed as part of this endeavor."
"Having clean drinking water has immense health benefits, including extending the lives of these people,'' Wakeman said. ''Another positive outcome is that the older children and young adolescents, particularly the female ones, are able to then attend school instead of spending much of their days walking to one of the few water sources in this desert nation and hauling poor quality water back to their families."
In each of the villages, the couple will participate in a water well dedication ceremony. In addition, they will visit medical clinics, which struggle to provide even basic health services due to chronic shortages of medicines, supplies and staff.
The North East residents also will be meeting local dignitaries, as well as fellow Rotarians and members of Rotaract, a group of adults between the age of 18 and 30 affiliated with Rotary International.
"These meetings will provide opportunities for establishing relationships, deepening cultural and international understanding and promoting goodwill and peace through service projects," said Ms. Hammond.
Although the couple will be representing the Westfield/Mayville Rotary Club of the Rotary District 7090 of Rotary International, they are paying for all of their own travel expenses.
"All donations made to the W/M water well fund to date go directly to building and installing the wells," Ms. Hammond said. "We are deeply grateful to all individuals and groups who have made contributions toward this worthy cause. Rotary International has provided matching funds so that the Westfield/Mayville Club could sponsor a second well."
Contemplating their trip, they said that after a brief stop in Casablanca in Morocco, they will be traveling directly to Niger. They will be staying in the capital city of Niamey, which is in the southern part of the West Africa nation. "Then we will be traveling to various villages in rural areas around the capital city."
Wakeman, in looking forward to the sojourn, noted, "To be able to witness firsthand authentic examples of the ideas of service and their direct, positive impact on peoples' lives is personally fulfilling."
"This will be a deeply rewarding, chance of a lifetime experience," Ms. Hammond said. "Undoubtedly it will be a life-changing experience, which will foster other opportunities for service."
For more information, e-mail Sue Hammond at suehammond@vzw.blackberry.net or visit the Westfield/Mayville Rotary Club website at www.clubrunner.ca/westfieldmayville.
