Canadian World Education Fund Presentation - Rick Caron

Rick Caron, a past president and member of the Rotary Club of Windsor, spoke to members today about the work he is involved in with the Canadian World Education Fund (CWEF - a Windsor-based non-profit tax-exempt charitable organization) and Saidia Agriculture and Social Care Organization (SASCO).

 

Rick got involved with these organizations through his daughter, Julie, he said. In 2009 they befriended a very young woman in Tanzania by the name of Mary (a mother of 2 children) who had taken 8 orphaned children wanted to build a school/orphanage and provide nourishment and education to them and simply give them “a chance at life”. A few months went by and Rick and Julie learned that Mary had passed away from a complication due to malaria. It was then that Julie knew she and her father had to get involved in CWEF and established a chapter in Tanzania of which Julie is the chair and founder. Four months ago there were 14 children who had committed sponsorships (i.e. groups, Rotary Clubs or individuals) for their education until they all finish. That number is now 19! 

 

CWEF Tanzania was established in November 2011 and is committed to empowering orphaned and vulnerable children in Tanzania through education sponsorship, i.e. to sending children to school who otherwise would not be able to attend. Currently the organization is providing long-term education sponsorship for children and are supporting 3 more on a year to year basis through general donations.  CWEF Tanzania works collaboratively with the Saidia Agriculture and Social Care Organization (SASCO) which was granted NGO status from the United Republic of Tanzania in September 2011.

 

While CWEF Tanzania activities are limited to education, in order for our education initiative to be truly successful other  determinants of health including  shelter, the provision of consistent care and nourishment, access to clean water and health care, and hygiene must also be addressed. To this end, certain members of our executive support the “Tanzania Project” of the Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) for projects outside of education.  Through Rotary, income-generating projects such as agriculture/farming and small business ventures are being implemented to provide financial support to the caregivers of children receiving CWEF TZ sponsorship such that the child’s complex needs are met and they can be successful at school   It is through the Rotary Club that all funds for projects unrelated to education are raised and sent to SASCO.

 

One of the specific projects Rick spoke about today was the Water and Health Sanitation efforts in Tanzania which has been supported by his club, our District and Julie’s club and SACSO. Rick shared photos of the project showing the holding tank erected to hold clean, fresh water that could be distributed to different parts of the village. Trucks come back to refill the tank every 8 days.  A Water Management Board has also been established. What a worthwhile cause and something we take for granted in this country. Rotary is indeed changing lives all over the world.