In the December 2020 issue of this newsletter, we had a story about a project of the Rotary Club of Naperville to provide WASH to a Hospital Facility in Nigeria.

Last fall, Peter Staermose, a member of the Rotary Club of Horsholm was named the new Chair of the Ambassador and Membership Team.

We had an interview with Peter so readers, especially WASH Rotary Action Group Ambassadors, could learn who he is and his goals for the upcoming year.

In 2016, the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, received a Global Grant for $97,000 to renovate this facility to bring it up to standards as a maternity delivery and health care centre. A condition of the grant was that they also had to provide training for regional and local staff.

Rotarian Dr Elaine Bunick has led the effort to bring medical care to this area. She has provided some excellent before and after photographs on WASH in Healthcare Facilities (WASH in HCF) that will be submitted to the 2021 People of WASH Photograph and Video competition.

Many of Dr Bunick's photographs have been used by Ron Denham, Chair Emeritus, for a PowerPoint presentation on the need for Rotarians to get involved in this critical need to bring WASH to healthcare facilities in communities around the world.

Global Water 2020 is hosting a series of three dynamic virtual roundtable discussions focused on advocating for WASH in healthcare facilities. Advocates will share best practices, challenges, and lessons learned.

The discussions will be held February 7, March 3 and March 17. All starting at 7 am Eastern. Simultaneous French and Spanish translations will be provided.

To be involved fill out this interest form.

The Rotary Club of Bogota Santa Barbara is raising funds to bring clean water to Providencia and Santa Catalina, which are islands off the coast of Colombia. They will use the Ayudagua technology that condenses water from the air using solar energy.

Contact the club if you are interested in helping with this innovative project.

Recently, the newsletter New Atlas had an article on the cleaning the world's most polluted rivers.

The non-profit Ocean Cleanup has been removing tons of plastics from the oceans and now has set its sights on cleaning up rivers. Interceptors are already scooping up plastic from rivers in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Dominican Republic.

Plastic gathered is turned into consumer products.

The pandemic is challenging many clubs on ways to raise money to support their projects. Here are three innovative fundraisers used to raise money for WASH projects. Check to make sure these ideas are legal in your area.

> The Rotary Club of Fredericton Sunrise holds a weekly online 50/50 draw.

> Rotary Clubs in the UK used a web-based fundraising page to raise over $22,000 during the Christmas season.

> George "WaterMan" Lewis has been working with Rotary clubs to sell portraits of pets for $150, of which $100 goes towards the club's projects. Recently, the Rotary Club of Massena, N.Y. held a Zoom meeting with George, sold nine portraits and raised $1,800 for their water project in Peru.

This Honduras Clean Water project (G-2636) will use $66,000 to provide potable water to all households, schools, and churches in the community of Juticalpa, Honduras. The host Rotary Club of Roatan, Honduras and the International Partner the Rotary Club of Fair Lawn-Sunrise, New Jersey, are seeking partners for this project.

The project will drill a well, install a solar system and pump, clean and repair an existing 15,000 gallon water storage tank (shown here), build a new PVC water distribution system, and provide WASH training to the community. There will be opportunities for hands-on work in Honduras for those who might be interested in travel.