In the News

Ancaster Rotary surpasses $1 million raised to build wells in Haiti.

With the personal mission to provide 200 wells, Roy Sheldrick of the Ancaster Rotary Club in Ontario, Canada, works nonstop on walkathons, dinners and presentations to spread the word about the importance of clean water for the health and economic stability of the people of Haiti.

Guided by his mission and a decade later, the Ancaster Rotary Club has raised more than $1 million to support clean water projects to the people of Haiti . In partnership with the Community Development Division of Hôpital Albert Schweitzer ( HAS ) Haiti, Mr. Sheldrick is three-fourths of the way to his goal of 200 wells. The Community Development staff provides technical assistance to Rotaries and other such organizations to assist with engineering plans for pipelines and organization of community members. The technical assistance can include new project organization and design, repair advice, and leveraging partnerships to maximize donations.

Mr. Sheldrick represents 73 Rotary clubs in his local district on the Water and Sanitation Rotary Action Group (WASRAG), which remains active in Haiti, promoting the importance of proper sanitation. Each December, Mr. Sheldrick and an international contingent of Rotarians travel to Haiti for the Water for Life project. This trip allows Rotarians to see how their work is changing the lives of some of the poorest people in the Western Hemisphere. During last year's conference, Haitian president René Garcia Préval met with Rotary District governors, and Mr. Sheldrick, to pledge his support for a joint initiative to provide clean water for all of Haiti 's 8.7 million residents.

The people of the Artibonite Valley deeply appreciate
the wells being built by the Ancaster Rotary, including
this one with the Rotary emblem proudly displayed.

For this year's World Day for Water, Mr. Sheldrick and his wife will be volunteering at the annual Water for Life Walkathon organized by the City of Hamilton (Canada). They will be joined in their efforts by HAS Community Development staff member, Renold Estime, who is traveling for the first time to Canada to lend his support to a group of people who have done so much to improve quality of life in the Artibonite Valley. Proceeds from the event support Ancaster Rotary's water projects in Haiti . To date the Walkathon has raised $46,000 and built nine wells. Mr. Sheldrick sees every day as an opportunity to raise funds and awareness for clean water and proper sanitation in Haiti.

If you would like to assist HAS with its mission of cooperation with the people of the Artibonite Valley, please click here to make a donation or to learn more abour HAS visit our home page.