International Service

Etta Projects

Working with Tacoma based Etta Projects, our club donated $5,000 as a portion of a larger Rotary Global Grant to install dry-ecological composting latrines and water containment systems, replacing shallow pit latrines and open defecation. Program goals include improving hygiene habits involving excreta disposal through latrine, hand-washing, and safe water practices reducing water-related illnesses.
We are currently the lead club on a Rotary Global Grant request to provide Health Promoter training in Rural Bolivia.

Side by Side

Because of the lockdown in South Africa due to the pandemic, Side by Side South Africa pivoted from their child feeding programs to Emergency Family Feeding Programs. The ISC supported two of the many food distributions they accomplished, working with seven Emfuleni Local Municipality churches. The population is approximately one-million people, of which 60% of the residents are indigent, living below the poverty line. Since the national lock down under COVID-19, there are thousands of people who remain locked down, unemployed and struggling to survive. Many depend on government social grants; but these are totally inadequate. Most of these individuals also depend on local churches for help. These churches were unable to cope to the numbers of needy individuals and are extremely grateful for the help provided by Rotary and Side by Side South Africa.

Days for Girls

Feluine Douf and her husband run a girls school in St Louis, Senegal. She has been working with Days for Girls to help keep girls in the classroom. For 10 days DFG trained 5 girls on how to make and provide training on the use of reusable hygiene kits. They make 120 kits per month and help girls in 30 different schools. The girls who lead the program are now making a living & supporting their families by making kits. Feluine expressed her appreciation to Rotary for providing funding to help girls stay in school. Due to the outcry for masks because of COVID-19, DFG International has made and delivered over one million masks. The Senegal enterprise made 40,000 and the Poulsbo Chapter 1,000. 

Path from Poverty

Path from Poverty is a Seattle based 501(c)3 working to empower women in Kenya. Two Christian women, one Kenyan and the other American, started the organization in 2000. Together they embarked on a journey to the Ukambani region of rural Kenya to try to determine the greatest need facing families and how Path from Poverty could lend support.

Over the years they met with groups of local women and gradually established a network to teach and empower others to break the cycle of poverty. A key element of this process was finding a way to relieve women of their daily duty to find and haul water from local rivers and streams for drinking, cooking, bathing and cleaning. This duty cost them much time and energy every day and affected every aspect of life. Young women could not attend school because they had to haul water. Water from these unclean sources caused significant health problems that further crippled daily life.

While the goals of Path from Poverty address many needs, including education, skills training, and business development, the need for a supply of clean water was primary. During the monsoon season the project found that water could be collected in large catchment tanks that sit right outside a woman’s home, bringing clean, safe water to her and her family. This sustainable solution is bringing opportunity and hope to the region in the form of learning new skills, starting new businesses, and improving general health and education of the community. It is providing a path from poverty.

Though the initial 10,000 liter tanks were purchased through charitable donations, the program has succeeded to the point where families can now save to purchase their own tanks. One of the primary focuses of Rotary International is to support sustainable projects that provide clean water and promote sanitation and improved hygiene. Path from Poverty addresses this focus.

In 2021 the Poulsbo-North Kitsap Rotary Foundation contributed a total of $5,600 for the purchase of new tanks, and through a District 5020 grant, the project contributed an additional $3,500. In total, Rotary purchased 22 new tanks. Kenyan women independently took advantage of the large order to purchase an additional 8 tanks. We are now working with the Rotary Club of Machakos, Kenya, to continue this work.

Past Projects Highlights

Our committee is engaged in a variety of projects supporting organizations besides those highlighted above.

• Common Threads project – a path to recovery for victims of sexual violence. We have provided support for clubs in Seattle but want to bring to Poulsbo
• Vision screening in Peru with Children of the Nations
• Komedyplast – international organization for care of children with congenital anomalies
• Djibouti Rotary – community sun oven (solar cooking) project
• Tanzania – Savings Groups for those who don’t have access to banking
• Coffee enhancement program – improve farming practices in Tanzania
• School Supplies and books for children in Burkina Faso with Walk in the Light International
• Shelterbox isolation tents for Syrian refugee displacement camp
• Food aid to Mayan Villagers in Guatemala. Emergency food bags for 12 villages in Guatemala through Disaster Aid Canada