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ROTARY ROUNDUP
Just some of the
Rotary delivery bags
GUATEMALA
PROJECT
BY, DEBBIE HALE, ROTARY DISTRICT 5230 INTERNATIONAL
SERVICE CHAIR, SALINAS STEINBECK ROTARY CLUB
hen I was 17 years old, my French teacher did people. Because of this trip, I grew a heart for
something that changed my life: she offered me the international experiences.
Wchance to go on an exchange with a French family for Facilitating such cultural exchanges is a core mission of my
two weeks. As one of two children in a single-parent family,
I would never have been able to make this trip without her
assistance. For the cost of a plane ticket, I was able to visit
Paris, the French Riviera, and the Alps! We did have to host
two 14-year-old boys at our home in Santa Clara County, students may have come to a close. However, there is another
but that was a small price to pay for the chance to eat real
croissants, visit historic Roman ruins, and meet real French
36 May 2025
Delivering vitamins to
Guatemalan children
club, the Salinas Steinbeck Rotary Club. Since our founding in
1982, Steinbeck Rotary has sponsored at least one exchange
student per year, with only a break during COVID-19. Sadly,
with the downsizing of our club, our era of sponsoring exchange
way to foster an international experience for young people:
international service projects.
It was in that spirit that I invited sophomore Abel Chavira
Debbie with Abel
Quezada from our Everett Alvarez High School Interact club
to join our Guatemala Rural Health Clinic trip. Over the last
17 years, the Rotary Clubs of Hanford, Lemoore, and Madera
have partnered with the Rotary Club of Cobàn, Guatemala,
to provide health clinics, vitamins, clean water, wheelchairs,
and school supplies to communities near Lanquin, Alta
Verapaz. Led by Jesus Garcia, President of the Rotary Club
of Lemoore, and District 5220 Governor Jane Winning,
Rotary Club of Madera, this team has provided a multi-year
Rotary investment in the health of some of the poorest and
malnourished people in the world.
Abel thinks I invited him to Guatemala to help us schlep
our forty-four 50 lb. bags of vitamins – and I will admit that
when I first saw his 6’4” basketball player frame, I thought
he’d be perfect for the job. But I really invited him because he
serves as the International Service Co-Chair for his Interact
club. Abel became a valued member of our team; he and his
club prepared 250 packets of toothpaste and toothbrushes for
the elementary school students. He also helped translate the
medical concerns of the residents to our nurses. And yes, he
was a champion at loading and unloading our heavy supply
bags. When he handed out vitamins and toothbrush packets to
the little kids in Guatemala with a grin, I knew he had grown a
heart for international service.
If you, too, are touched by a love for international service,
we can use your help. We have grown our Guatemala goals for
next year to add two larger, sustainable projects to our current
program. Together, our goals are as follows:
• Computers: Supply 40 computers to the Don Bosco
vocational school of 1300 students, doubling their current
capacity. At a cost of $550 per computer system, I believe
that every club in our District, and many individuals can
afford to help out.
• Clean Water: Construct 4 new water filtration
systems (~$12,000 each) in collaboration with Living
Waters World Missions to reduce disease and improve
community health. We will leverage the power of the
Rotary World Fund, and our District Designated Funds
through a Global Grant by raising $14,500 in club funds,
we can fund a $48,000 project.
• Health Clinics/Vitamins: Our current program requires
us to raise approximately $15,000 to provide vitamins and
medical supplies on an annual basis.
I don’t think I ever properly thanked Mme. for
the generosity of spirit by which she enabled Brent Eastman Insurance Services Inc
my first international exchange all those years 51 Katherine Avenue | Salinas, CA 93901
ago, but I hope I can pay it forward by inviting www.brenteastman.com
our Everett Alvarez Interact high school (831) 751-0700 | License #: 0E72648
students to join Rotarians on service projects
around the world. Abel is already hoping to persuade our club SPECIALIZING IN
to sponsor an Interact student to Guatemala next year.
Group Health Insurance • Medicare Products
Rotarians... share the work that your Club is doing within the community and around the world! Life Insurance • Dental & Vision Plans
Contact Laurie.Martin@n2co.com or phone 272-4620.
Greet HWY 68 Loop 37