BENDIGA JOURNAL Journey of a Missionary

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ROTARY CLUB of Libano Colombia
Latest News:

ROTARY CLUB OF LIBANO GIVEN AWARD BY THE DISTRICT
Our club received recognition for the greatest membership growth in the district as well as for all of the service projects that we are doing. We attribute this award to the relationship that we share with the Rotary Club of Mission Viejo, Ca, USA
We are looking to increase our membership again this year with new members who wish to put "Service Above Self" and lend a hand to those who are less fortunate.
Padre Brian Cooper
President of the Rotary Club of Libano
Libano Club Awarded Membership Growth Plaque at District Conference
The translation is:
  To The Rotary Club of Libano
For your wish to serve the neediest
and for your membership growth in Rotary
Alvaro reyes
 Governor District 4290
74th District Conference
Melgar,  May 1,2, and 3 2003

Rotary Clubs of Libano Colombia, SA and Mission Viejo, Ca USA Strengthen Ties and Support for Barrio Building Program
Father Brian expresses his thanks to Rotary Club of Mission Viejo
for the club's generosity which has helped feed the many families in Libano and at the same time helped grow the Barrio Building Fund.
 Father Brian also gave a very vivid report on not only the conditions in the Libano Barrios but also how the two clubs have worked together and in doing so have been a prime force in encouraging stability and growth in the Libano Club. Enter here for full story.

THE 4 WAY TEST
Father Brian was chosen as President of the Rotary Club of Libano 2002-03 and as his first action...he distributes the 4 Way Test Bookmarks in Spanish to school children in Libano.
 (The Bookmarks were donated by the Rotary Club of Mission Viejo, Ca)

The Bookmarks translated in to English, read:
"The 4 Way Test
of the things we think say or do:
1) Is it the TRUTH?
2)Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3)Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4)Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"

BARRIO PRIMERO de MAYO...The Rotary Club of Libano, Colombia ijointly with the Rotary Club of Mission Viejo, California USA is dedicated to helping a second barrio in Libano which is named "Barrio Primero de Mayo. It houses 30 families living in severe conditions. SANTA ROSA BARRIO HOUSING PROJECT  IN LIBANO, COLOMBIA SA  
Rotarian Brian from the Rotary Club of Libano, South America, reports on the Santa Rosa Barrio Housing  Project being devoloped between clubs in District 5320 and District 4290. This is the continued story about a remote Rotary Club serving humanity deep in the heart of the Andes Mountains in Colombia and how with the Rotary Club of Mission Viejo, California USA, is establishing a Housing Project to help 25 families living in poverty in a barrio on the outskirts of Libano (Population 20,000).

2000 Letter and report given by
Rotarian/Bro Brian Cooper to Rotary Club of Mission Viejo.
Please scroll down this page

We send you a cordial greeting from all the members of the Rotary Club here in Libano. Our fellow member, Brian has been delegated to present to you, the status of our current Santa Rosa Barrio Project.
The housing plans are now finalized by the architect and we have sent to you the more important parts of the plan.
We have met with the Barrio community to inform them of the project plans and we are now forming a
Community Association that will include members of the Barrio and members of our Rotary Club.
The people from Santa Rosa Barrio are very excited about the future possibilities.

Our next phase is to present the project to INURBE which is a government institution  that provides subsidies to help with the construction costs.

In the next few weeks we are planning to purchase a lot of approximately 6 - 7 acres of land.  It is located on the edge of town and the local government has promised to incorporate into the town.

The price of the lot is $13 million pesos ($8500) which is about half the actual value of the land.  We have an intitial down payment and then a few months to pay off the total amount.

We are thankful for your help that has allowed us to secure this piece of land.
You have also helped us pay for the study and project plans.

Originally, the plans called for us to build the houses out of concrete materials, but we are now studying the
possibility to build the houses out of "guadua" which is considered to be a more suitable material in the event  of an earthquake. It is a much lighter and more economical.

We hope to have the machinery and tools to teach the people so that they can assist in the building of their own homes.
As these families are very poor, we will also be building beds, tables, chairs, and other furnishings.

We are also looking to build a day care center for the 79 children which will be run by other mothers during the day.
This will allow some of the mothers to continue to work in town. At night this center will be used for adult
training and education. We also hope to include a basketball court and a children's park.

Our idea is not to just build houses and then end the program. We want to continue working with this community so that the parents and their children have a better future. We will certainly keep you updated as the project continues to unfold.
Please receive our sincere and heartfelt greeting and we thank you for giving Brian the opportunity to
present the Santa Rosa Barrio Project.
Sincerely,
Carlos Ariza Villalobos          Jaime Forero Redondo
President 98-99                     President 99-2000

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Site first created Dec 22, 1999