The Gambia is a small State in West Africa. The population of the Gambia is estimated to be 1.6 million, and the density per square kilometer is 128, one of the highest in Africa. Three quarters of the population is rural. Women constitute 51 per cent of the population. Currently, the crude birth rate is 46.2 per thousand though dropping is still high. Life expectancy at birth is low at 55 years overall, and 54 years and 57 years for males and females respectively.

The Gambia is among the poorest countries in the World, ranked 155th out of 177, in UNDP’s Human Development Index for 2004. As is the case in many developing countries, water is a precious and critical resource for the Gambian people. Without access to adequate wells, women spend an inordinate time searching for and transporting water in order to feed families and grow crops.

Gardens for the Gambia focuses on digging wells at schools.  The wells provide three critical things for Gambian school children: 1) Knowledge of agriculture; 2) A meal – sometimes their only meal of the day - for the poorest children; and 3) profits from surplus produce sold at market enable the school to buy supplies and equipment.  Each well serves 100 to 300 people.

Many individuals wonder why such a long period of time is required in The Gambia and why matters cannot be attended to more efficiently or with much less time.  Unfortunately, much of West Africa, including The Gambia, is part of the developing world. As a result, there is a lack of infrastructure and communication is often difficult. However, we have opted to make this project an ongoing part of our “African Program” and are joining with a Rotary Club in The Gambia to apply  for a Matching Grant.  San Bernardino Sunset has joined us as a MG partner.

The borders of present-day Bangladesh were established with the partition of Bengal and India in 1947, when the region became the eastern wing of the newly-formed Pakistan. However, it was separated from the western wing by 1,600 kilometres (1,000 mi) across India. Political and linguistic discrimination as well as economic neglect led to popular agitations against West Pakistan, which led to the war for independence in 1971 and the establishment of Bangladesh. After independence the new state endured famines, natural disasters and widespread poverty, as well as political turmoil and military coups. The restoration of democracy in 1991 has been followed by relative stability and economic progress.

Bangladesh is the seventh most populous country in the world and is among the most densely populated countries in the world with a high poverty rate. Bangladesh is about the size of Iowa with other 150,000,000 population.

Since independence more than 30 years ago, the Government of Bangladesh has invested substantially in the institutionalization and strengthening of health and family planning services, with special attention to rural areas, and the government is committed to HFA with PHC as the key approach. For the last 30 years, there has been a substantial improvement in the health status of the people.  Despite these improvements, much remains still to be done. Mortalities rates, especially infant and maternal mortality, continue to be unacceptably high. The quality of life of the general population is still very low. Low calorie intake continues to result in malnutrition, particularly in women and children. Diarrhoeal disease continues to be a major killer. Communicable and poverty-related diseases that are preventable still dominate the top ten causes of morbidity.

The Rotary Club of Temecula plans to partner with Rotary Clubs in Bangladesh during the 2009-10 Rotary year with a Matching Grant focused in these areas.

The project, working with local Rotarians and Rotary Clubs in Canada and Denver, provide funds to artisans in San Salvador. San Salvador is an area that was deeply affected by war and subsequent mass murders. Most of the lending available to the artisans in rural areas is predatory. These funds allow the purchase of supplies at a reasonable rate and create local accountability. Two of these towns are quite famous for their wicker and another for their food items, hosting midnight shopping that people from all areas attend. 

This project is an ongoing as part of our international program. We have not pursued a Matching Grant in the past. With the participation of other local clubs a Matching Grant becomes a possibility in the upcoming year.

This is a gift that keeps giving. The project is in Kerala, India and is being expanded. The project is sponsored by local Rotary clubs. The Rotary Club of Temecula is providing funds to sponsor purchase of goals and other project expense.  Ten women in group receive one goat. One will get a male goat. Each woman will pass their first born she goat to the second group. Training, education and insurance are provided and regular checkups.

This project is an ongoing as part of our international program. We are working with a local Rotary club.

We have not pursued a Matching Grant in the past. With the participation of other local clubs a Matching Grant becomes a possibility in the upcoming year.