Nine San Marino Rotarians traveled to Tijuana, Mexico on Sept. 28 to kick off a hands-on International Project.
Rotary Club of San Marino once again partnered with the Rotary Club of Tijuana Independencia in Tijuana, Mexico to provide the Raul Anguiano kindergarten with a fresh water system.
The San Marino Rotarians who made the trip were International Projects Co-Chair Shody Chow, Rob Feidler, Grace Yang, Sharon Park, J.P. Mainguy, Adam Chang, International Projects Co-Chair Aaron Gil, Wayne Carter and Isaac Hung. The San Marino Rotary International Committee has been planning this particular Rotary International Grant project for close to a year.
The kindergarten is located on a small hill in Ejido Lazaro Cardenas, a remote and poor outskirt of Tijuana, Mexico that does not have running water or paved roads. The Raul Anguiano kindergarten requires water to be brought in weekly by truck, where it is currently stored in a small water tank. This water is not potable and is only enough to serve the boys’ and girls’ bathrooms. The San Marino Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Tijuana Independencia joined together to create a Rotary Global Grant project that will help provide fresh water to the Raul Anguiano kindergarten.
With funds from both clubs, matching funds from their respective Rotary Districts, and matching funds from Rotary International, Rotary volunteers are in the process of installing a large water tank for general sanitation and irrigation as well as a smaller tank with a reverse osmosis filtration system for drinking water. Additionally, an irrigation drip system will be installed which will allow the school to start a gardening program to encourage the children to grow plants and vegetables. The overall sanitation and hygiene of the school will be much improved.
This is the second year of partnership between the San Marino Rotary Club and the Tijuana Independencia Club. In 2015, the San Marino Rotary Club provided funding for basic needs at the Raul Anguiano kindergarten including a handicap ramp, stair railings for safety and sunshade awnings so that the children are able to eat out of the sun.
