February

Did you know that over 2 million people are impacted by domestic violence in Australia? The figures are confronting. It’s 1 in 6 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced domestic violence by the age of 15. It’s a complicated situation, that is impacting many. As part of the Say No To Domestic Violence working group in Rotary, we have been made aware of DV Safe Phone. Their vision is to get a safe phone into the hands of every victim of domestic violence in need. They have helped 5,500 people in need in their first 3 years and looking to positively impact 20,000 by 2026.

If you want to help, please get in touch with Tom Summons (tom@goodbusinessbetter.com) to donate an old phone, or you can find out more and donate directly via https://dvsafephone.org/

Every year for the last several years the Rotary Club has donated $1000 to provide food for the very poor in the Philippines, and Don took part in many of these food distribution activities, which included:

Dec. 12 (Tuesday)

Fishgate Foundation Amuyong, Alfonso – rice for 16 poor families assisted.

Social Welfare Department, Alfonso and rice/canned goods/hygiene products support to 4 Children under her care (orphans).

Dec. 13 (Wednesday)

Brgy. Amuyong Daycare X'mas party - 43 poor families assisted.

Dec. 14 (Thursday)

Special Education (disabled) X'mas party, Alfonso Central School - rice to 120 families – educational toys for the school. 

Tartaria, Silang - rice to 100 former farming families who were thrown off their land (after 6 generations) as no land titles.

Dec. 15 (Friday)

100th Sheep Foundation X’mas party in Dasmarinas – support to 80 families.

Rice, toy and financial support to Esther's family in General Trias.

Dec. 16 (Saturday)

Brgy. Taywanak Ibaba, Alfonso X'mas - rice to 71 families.

Dec. 17 (Sunday)

Visit Aeta community in Batangas - rice to 76 families.

Dec. 18 (Monday) 

Tondo High School, Metro Manila X'mas party - rice to 100 families.

The above activities supported 608 families, so our $1000 (along with donations from others) was made to go a long way in the Philippines to help families in need.

During his recent visit to the Philippines, Don met with clubs from 3 other districts:

• Rotary Club of Multinational Manila (District 3810), who installed 1 x playground in Alfonso,
• Rotary Club of Binan (District 3820), who installed 3 x playgrounds in the Laguana region (with 1 still to be installed),
• Rotary Club of Angeles Kulit (District 3790), who are soon to receive 13 playgrounds for the Subic Bay/Angeles/Pampanga area.

We visited the playgrounds originally from Barwon Valley School, Girton Reserve and Ibis Reserve.

The meeting was facilitate so that the Rotary Club of Angeles Kulit was able to learn from the experience of the other clubs – what worked well & what they would do differently next time.

Of particular not is that the Australian playgrounds are larger than the land allows, and where possible, the playgrounds are being split into multiple playgrounds. Therefore the 5 playgrounds sent will be able to be installed in 8 or 9 schools.

He also met with the District Governor & District Secretary of District 3810, who were keen to explore the possibility of more playgrounds, along with the Principal of Alfonso Central School (which includes the regional Special Education students), who was keen to receive playgrounds.