It has been great to see our Members log into our Friday Meetings even though they are overseas. Rtn John Fotiadis called in from Florida where is enjoying an ‘unlocked’ lifestyle. And Rtn Elmar Lins called in from Austria. Rtn Chip Browness is in Vancouver Canada and he has confirmed that he will call in to one of our Friday meetings so as we can talk to him about his tenth anniversary as a Member of our Club and also conduct his first ever Classification Interview!

Furthermore, our Guest Speaker Billy Curryer from the Karen Hilltribes  Foundation joined our meeting from the UK over his breakfast time so as to provide us with an update of the KHTF’s activities.

Hence Zoom continues to provide an opportunity for travelling Rotarians, Guests and Speakers to join us each Friday. If you know of any of our Members who are overseas then please let them know they are most welcome to join us via Zoom.

We also heard from our Communications Director Rtn Rakesh whose weekly activities are supported by his staff and many of our Members especially with regards to the publication of South Wind. Our Fund Raising Director Rtn Steve is working on re-instating our weekly raffle with an online prompt pay system. There is a bit of work to be done and hopefully it will pass all the hurdles and allow us to replenish our Charity Account ASAP. Thank you to Rtn Dana and Roadhouse BBQ for his continued support of our raffle.

Finally, last Friday I noted that at our July Board Meeting we approved that our Friday weekly Meetings, whether at the Crowne Plaza Hotel or online, will be recognised as counters for Perfect Attendance Recognition. This is in effect for regular Friday Club Meetings from Friday 30^th July 2021.

Furthermore, all valid make-ups from Saturday 24^th July 2021, including online make-ups, will count as credits towards missed regular Meetings and they will not expire until 30^th June 2022. Please refer to our Club communication email sent out on Friday 23^rd July for details. See you all online on Friday 30^th July.

Finbarr O'Connor
President 2021-22

Rotarian Marcel Dubbelman in his introduction of our speaker, Mr. Billy Curryer, highlighted the importance of keeping fellow Rotarians involved and informed of the status of projects undertaken by our club and how the funds are being spent.

The Karen communities face huge challenges :

- 64 % live below poverty line

- Drought and flooding are common

- 75 % of children do not finish secondary school
 

KHT Mission: To partner with Karen communities to improve their health, livelihoods, and access to education

They aim to achieve this through three key objectives:

• Improve health by organizing a clean water project Sanitation and hygiene facilities
• Build sustainable occupational security by adjusting the irrigation system to allow farmers to recycle their farmland.
• Provides an opportunity to receive education for underprivileged Karen children and adolescents in order to create a better future and opportunity

Good health and wellbeing is one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Promoting a healthy community is one of the most important ways to reduce poverty and inequality, helping communities to thrive.

One of the main reasons for poor health in Karen communities is through lack of access to adequate clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities. Around 40% of the population in Mae Hong Son lack access to clean drinking water and adequate waste disposal making. This makes them vulnerable to many diseases including diarrhea, typhoid, stomach ulcers and parasitic worms. Not only do these cause short-term health problems but they can also cause long-term chronic complications which have lasting impacts on health, education and livelihoods outcomes, helping continue the cycle of poverty.

KHT projects implemented so far include :

- 205 gravity-fed water systems

- 55,643 beneficiaries of water sanitation and hygiene projects

- 3,149 latrines constructed at households

All this has resulted in huge reduction in water borne diseases, giving more time in the working day to bring economic benefits and best of all, children do not miss out on schooling.

In the field of sustainable livelihood 94 irrigation systems have been constructed bringing almost 2,500 acres of farmland under irrigation thereby benefiting 18,522 people.

In the field of education 158 students have been provided with scholarship, around 15,000 children are supported through school meals and transportation to school and back. Besides, 10 school dormitories have also been constructed.

The Rotary Club of Bangkok South has been actively supporting KHT by providing Water testing kits and Community Hygiene Education materials.

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

1. Rtn Rakesh Sodhia - Chair

2. PE Patrick Gauvain

3. PP Philip Baechtold

4. VP Rod Vergara

5. Rtn Sunny Patel

Rtn Rakesh requested fellow members to come forward and volunteer to cover speaker's presentations , for advertisers in South Wind and for contribution of anecdotes in Rotary Rap column.

DEJÀ VOUS… IS IT YOU?