What's Been Happening at Windsor-Roseland Rotary

Chinandega, Nicaragua November 2005

Windsor-Roseland Rotarians have traveled to four countries on international projects this year. The latest group included Kim Spirou and Darren Winger who used vivid descriptions and heart-wrenching photos to tell the story of their trip to Chinandega, Nicaragua last December. Along with Darren’s wife Kim, they were part of a group of 49 Rotarians from 5 districts. After being devastated by Hurricane Mitch and mudslides, this area of Nicaragua is particularly poor. Rotary has been there helping and this mission was to document and review Rotary’s projects in the area, identify new projects and audit the micro farms.

After a day of bonding at the beach, a bus took the group to Chinandega for a visit to the dump. In Kim’s words, “Nothing prepares you for the devastating reality of hundreds of adults and children picking through the dump along side of skinny animals, swarms of flies and the putrid smell of garbage and methane gas.” Fortunately Rotary brings relief with many projects in the area, which they visited on their trip. They took shoe boxes loaded with toys, T-shirts, school supplies and toiletries to the children of Father Marco’s school. They visited a home for pregnant mothers, a hospital, a school for the blind and the location of a new project teaching youth to assemble bikes.

They had a chance to play games with some children in San Pablo near the site of the next micro farm project and also visited the area where already established micro farms are growing crops and flourishing. They also visited Titanaya, which will be the site of a Rotary macro farm collective for veterans. Thanks to Kim, Darren and Kim for taking “a journey of a lifetime” to bring Rotary’s good work to these very needy people!