Area Rotarians visit Puerto Plata Rotary in Dominican Republic
Posted by Anne Nauts
Paul Schissler and Anne Nauts from the Chelsea Rotary Club were on vacation this January in the Dominican Republic and decided to drop in on the Rotary Club of Puerto Plata. Visiting other Rotary Clubs is one thing the couple enjoys doing when they are traveling. Club Rotario Puerto Plata welcomed the visitors and told them about some of their projects, including water and sanitation (aqueducts, BIoSand filters, latrines), school reading programs, women and girl’s empowerment, Haitian education, community center construction, camps for kids.
In addition to this visit, Paul and Anne participated in projects on the “Impact Service Cruise” that they took along with Dexter Rotarian, Karen Walworth, and several other friends from the area. While docked at port in Puerto Plata, the Fathom Impact Travel cruise offered various service projects that people on the ship could devote their days to, including pouring cement floors in homes that had dirt floors, working in a arts and crafts paper recycling company that a group of women had formed, manufacturing water filters to provide clean water to some of the 3 million people in the DR who have no access to piped water, teaching English to local students and adults, reforestation and nursery efforts. “This was one of the best experiences of our lives”, said Anne after getting back to Michigan. Seeing how grateful the mother of the family was while our team worked to pour a concrete floor in her home will be something I never forget. I strongly urge others to go on service related trips, and experience this way to help make our world better. “It’s very personal when you see it with your own eyes”, said Paul. Karen Walworth, Dexter Rotarian and travel agent, can help set up a similar trip if you are interested. Email her at karen@sidestreettravel.com if you have questions.