[D9640general] [eFlash_Rotary] Digest Number 737

[Garry & Anne Krischock]

 Message 
  1. 1411: Clubs in Central America to put on international project fair 
Sat Nov 17, 2007 4:27 pm (PST) 
Clubs in Central America to put on international project fair

By Jenny Llakmani 
Rotary International News 

A scenic view of a Central American beach. In January, Costa Rica 
will host an internatioanl project fair put together by Rotary clubs 
througout Central America. For many people, January is a time for 
New Year's resolutions. But instead of cutting out the carbs this 
year, why not resolve to find an international project for your 
Rotary club? The Uniendo America Project Fair makes it easy.

The fair, now in its 15th year, will be held 24-26 January in San 
José, Costa Rica. It will feature as many as 300 projects organized 
by clubs in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, and Panama, as well as seminars, including one on 
microcredit that will be led by Rotary Foundation Trustee Carolyn 
Jones.

"The project fair is a place to make new friends, to comply with your 
Rotarian passion through human service, and to get to know lovely 
tropical countries - at a time when it gets cold in the North," says 
Fabio Carballo, past governor of District 4240 (Costa Rica; El 
Salvador; Nicaragua; Panama) and chair of this year's fair.

The Uniendo America fair was the launching pad for microcredit 
projects in Central America, notes Carballo, who is also vice chair 
of RI's Microcredit Advisory Committee. Microbanking is still a big 
part of the event; other topics include water, hunger, health, 
education, transportation and shipping, and the environment.

"A project fair is like a huge menu of projects in the Central 
American countries for Rotarians to choose from and bring back to 
their club," says Deniel Banks, a member of the Rotary Club of 
Portland, Oregon, USA, who serves on the microcredit committee. "It 
looks like a cross between a trade fair and the House of Friendship."

Rotarians will be able to take part in some hands-on projects as well 
as special events such as a city tour, dance lessons, and a formal 
ball. Before and after the fair, they can visit national parks and 
private nature reserves of Costa Rica, which is known for its 
tremendous biodiversity. 

In its 15 years, the Uniendo America fair has faced its share of 
adversity, from Hurricane Mitch in 1998 to the 2001 earthquake in El 
Salvador, but the Central American organizers and the North American 
visitors have persevered. 

"This has become such a powerful instrument for people to come 
together," Carballo says. "A lot of clubs in the United States want 
to do international service, but they don't know how. This is a good 
place to start."

Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary

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