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District Grant Request - The Rotary Club of Anthem requests a District Grant for $1,625 for eye examinations, treatment, and prescriptions for eyeglasses for 10 Guatemalan students who are currently receiving Rotary scholarships to attend school.
The Chair of the Rotary Club of Anthem Foundation Committee, Rick Nollenberger and Rotarian Jean Herschede from the Rotary Club of Healdsburg, CA prepared this District Grant request.
The President of the Rotary Club of Anthem, AZ is Bill Black.
Background - Amigos de Guatemala began as a partnership of Rotary and other service clubs to provide quality humanitarian service projects in Guatemala in 2003 with the Rotary Club of Groveland, CA building a school kitchen for the small Maya community of Jaibalito in Lake Atitlan. In 2004, the focus turned to the area of Zacualpa, Guatemala in partnership with the Association for Development in Zacualpa, a non-governmental organization (ONG in Spanish). ADIZ President Fredy Argueta and staff are dependable, honest professionals. The primary focus of Amigos de Guatemala is the education and associated medical needs of students. Since 2004, Amigos de Guatemala has completed over 20 major school development projects in the area of Zacualpa such as the middle and high school scholarship programs currently supported by the Rotary Club of Anthem and other Rotary clubs. They have assisted with other local needs and special projects ranging from dental care to building and maintaining the library for the students. In 2014, Amigos de Guatemala incorporated in California as a 501(c)3 corporation to expand its reach to those under-served in Latin America.
Project Description - A team of volunteers, lead by Amigos de Guatemala Director Jean Herschede—a member of the Rotary Club of Healdsburg, CA—go to Guatemala every year to review and follow up on all projects. A team member from the 2015 visit, an optometrist, helped identify 10 students with acute vision problems. Nine of those students are girls. With the vision equipment available in the community, only a basic level evaluation was performed. The closest office for vision treatment is in Joyabaj, an hour away by bus. Through the partnership of Unidad de Ojos Guatemala, these students are able to have their eyes examined by an ophthalmologist at a reduced charge. The cost of the program includes in-depth vision evaluation, any medical treatment needed as well as corrective lenses and frames. The goal of this grant is for these students to have as close to 20-20 vision as medically possible to help them in their education and their day-to-day lives. The estimated time for the project is two months, with completion in late January or early February 2016.
The District Grant funds should be sent to the Rotary Club of Anthem initially. Rotarian Herschede will coordinate with ADIZ President Fredy Argueta to schedule the students. Funds will then be transferred to Amigos de Guatemala in California. To minimize the cost of transfer fees as well as obtaining a better exchange rate, the funds will be bundled with other funds needed for scholarships and other activities prior to wire transfer to the Amigos de Guatemala account in Guatemala.
When all of the vision appointments and necessary corrections are completed, Amigos de Guatemala will receive a report and invoices from the ophthalmologist detailing the services and the corrections given each student. Amigos de Guatemala will make payment at that time. The final report will be sent to the Rotary Club of Anthem with copies of the items outlined above, Any funds in excess of the completed project will be returned to Rotary District 5490 and the Rotary Club of Anthem in proportion to their respective contributions.
Rotarian Involvement - There are no local Rotary Clubs in the Zacualpa area. A team of volunteers, lead by Rotarian Jean Herschede, go to Guatemala every year to review and follow up on all projects. The majority of support for the scholarship students is through contributions from as many as 15 Rotary Clubs plus individual Rotarians.
Other Organizations Involved - The Association for Development in Zacualpa (ADIZ), Amigos de Guatemala's partner in Zacualpa, will report the progress of the students' treatment.
Budget - The estimated budget to cover a thorough eye examination, medical treatment as necessary, corrective lenses and frames based on the ophthalmologist's quote is (Guatemalan Quetzal) GTQ17,000. This amount is approximately $2,200 depending on the fluctuation of the exchange rate. The Rotary Club of Anthem budgeted for $575 to be matched by $1,625 in DDF. Amigos de Guatemala has a fund to cover the cost of transportation for the students to and from Joyabaj.
Benefits - This project will enable nine girls and one boy with high to severe vision problems to maximize their educational and career experiences fully.
All the direct beneficiaries of the project are Amigos de Guatemala Rotary-funded scholarship students.
Upon award of the District Grant, appropriate print, electronic, and social media releases will be made and posted. In addition to explaining the details of the grant support of the Amigos de Guatemala Vision Project, the media releases provide facts about the Rotary Club of Anthem, Rotary International and Rotary Foundation's charity rating that is the result of its funding model and financial oversight. The intent is to encourage the public to participate in Rotary events and contribute to Rotary Foundation programs and projects.
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