Fast for Hope 2005-06 and 2006-07

Click Here for 2006-07 Powerpoint presentation

February is Rotary’s Peace and World Understanding month when our district conducts Fast for Hope (FFH), our annual international project.

Over the years, our district has raised significant sums of money, which have been used to fund significant projects throughout the world.  Two years ago, we launched a multiple-year focus on water projects. 

In 2003-2004, our district began a three-year collaboration with District 5950 on the Haiti Safe Water Plus project, which also involves Haiti Outreach and World Vision as co-participants. There has been a tremendous response and overwhelming support for the safe water project in Haiti!  To-date, District 5960 has raised close to $60,000!  Through pooling our money with District 5950, we have received matching funds and resources from Rotary International, World Vision, and Haiti Outreach, which has increased the funding available for the project.   

Our FFH dollars funded a safe drinking water project for Haitians living in the Rio Onde ADP (Area Development Program) located in the Thomassique region of Haiti’s Central Plateau. As you are no doubt aware, the continued political instability within the country is taking its toll on the people living in the country and often making it unsafe for Rotarians to travel there.  Fortunately, the current political situation has not directly impacted the water project.  This year, the project is on track to complete the remaining project objectives (drill/repair wells, build latrines, provide community education) to provide safe drinking water to Haitians living in the Central Plateau.  

The Plan:

• Raising Awareness
  Contact Craig Leiser (651-439-4008) if you would like to schedule a speaker for your 2007 FFH program to learn more about the project and the accomplishments achieved... 
• Raising the Money
  The 2006 and 2007 goals for our FFH project are $30,000.  In round figures, $30,000 can be raised if every member of the district donates $10.  We can do it, but only if each club promotes the project.  If you have not communicated this year’s FFH pledge to the district, please do so right away.  Then, by no later than May 31^st, be sure to send your money to Jingle (District 5950, 2233 Hamline Ave N. #511, Roseville, MN 55113) so that it can be credited to the current Rotary year.  Payable to Rotary District 5960, indicate FFH in the memo line to be sure that your donation is designated for FFH.

 This has been a great Rotary partnership with contributions from Rotarians and clubs in Districts 5950, 5960, 6250 and 6450.  In addition we have enjoyed a tremendous relationship with our “outside of Rotary” partners World Vision and Haiti Outreach.  At the end of the day, there is no difference, no distance, and no disparity too great to separate one group of people from another.  Haitians share the same dreams, visions, desires, hungers, and loves that we experience. Our service in Rotary is all about relieving human want and suffering.  Thank you for supporting Fast for Hope.

Remember, when we drill the wells, the children stop dying.   

Questions & Answers about Fast for Hope 2003-2007

What is the aim of Fast for Hope?

FFH aims to achieve three things:

1.      Raise Rotarian awareness of the World beyond our borders

2.      Raise money while rewarding Rotarians with the experience, however briefly, of deprivation endured by most of the world’s population

3.      Perform one BIG project to make a difference in the state of humanity somewhere in the world.

Why Haiti?

Though Haiti is very close in proximity to the United States (800 miles southeast of Florida), it could not be more distant from our country in terms of prosperity.  Haiti is the largest island in the Caribbean, covering 10,700 square miles.  Over 6 million people live in Haiti; 70% in rural areas, the majority of whom do not have access to potable water.  Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Approximately 80% of the Haitians live in extreme poverty.  Though a few have expressed concern about doing water projects in Haiti given the current crisis, in many ways the recent political crisis in Haiti only underscores the dire need that exists. 

Why Water Projects?

The United Nations Millennium goals have established that during a ten year period which began on March 22, 2005, ending in 2015, the objective is to reduce the number of people who do not have access to water every day (one billion) in half by the end of the tenth year.  Past President Glenn Estess put in motion a plan whereby our international network is aimed at having every Rotary club in the world participate in a water project. Now in our second year, President Stenhammar has continued that leadership.  And President-elect Bill Boyd has already selected his team for next year.  The case for water projects is easy to understand. The chief causes of death in children under 5 are diarrheal diseases that often result from unsafe water & inadequate sanitation & hygiene.  The provision of clean water is the first and most essential step out of a life of poverty.  But, providing safe water is not enough.  It must be sustained.  Sustainability can only be assured if we think of all the critical success factors. Our plan is to go beyond safe water and address the need for adequate sanitation, facilities, health and hygiene education, and the long-term operation and maintenance of water supply and sanitation systems. 

Why work with District 5950 instead of doing our own project, independently?

Why not?  For the past several years, our neighboring District 5950 has been working on gaining experience in water projects in anticipation of launching a significant initiative to provide safe drinking water to a country in need.  Their efforts have been fruitful.  They have selected Haiti as the target country for water projects.  The synergy we gain through collaboration has the potential to help us accomplish more than either district could do individually. Another key factor is that the infrastructure to sustain the wells provided by the World Vision and Haiti Outreach partnerships for District 5950’s project, will also sustain the wells in the region funded by our District’s FFH dollars. 

Will we continue to work directly with District 5950?

District 5960 will continue to have shared goals with District 5950 on promoting safe water in places in the world where it does not exist.  District 5960 leadership will determine in future years what our district’s strategy will be to that end.

Thanks in advance for your generous support of our district FFH!

If you have questions or comments, please contact Craig Leiser (phone: 651/439-4427), or email: CLeiser@aol.com.  Thanks in advance for your generous support of our district FFH! Send checks payable to Rotary District 5960, 2233 Hamline Ave N. #511, Roseville, MN 55113.