Westborough – Bringing clean water and sanitation to millions who lack that vital resource is an area of focus for thousands of Rotary International Clubs across the globe. Locally, the Rotary Club of Westborough has made a commitment to this initiative through a special new partnership with the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Rotaract Club as well as the WPI chapter of Engineers without Borders.
The Rotary Club of Westborough presented a check for $4,000 to support the Rainwater Harvesting Project in the rural community of Gauchtug, Guatemala. Currently the community relies on a polluted, spring-fed water basin. Community members currently spend more than an hour, several times each day, collecting water. Through the project, rainwater collection units will be installed on individual homes. This will ultimately free residents from the current polluted basin water and also make it possible for them to each have a lavatory.
Other Rotary Clubs in the area contributed to the project and the donation from the Rotary Club of Westborough met the fundraising requirement to be eligible for matching funds from The Rotary Foundation.
“The $4,000 donation from your club completes the initial money needed for the Global Grant,” Katie Picchione, WPI Rotaract Club president, stated. “Matched by the District and Rotary Foundation funds, you donation multiplies to $14,000. This can cover the cost of all the additional storage tanks needed in the community, or the cost of all logistics and the on-the-ground support needed to complete the project. It is the largest single donation that has been put into this project since its beginning in 2009, and it ensures that by May 2015, every family in Guachtug will have improved water security.”
