Everyone around here knows about the Lakefront Music Fest held by the Prior Lake Rotary Club. But did you know that the club also helps less fortunate around the world in addition to conducting many projects locally?
Prior Lake Rotary is sponsoring two projects this year in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda in Eastern Africa where over 140,000 people live after fleeing violence in their surrounding home countries. Many are totally dependent on the United Nations, receiving less than $6 per person per month to survive. Water quality is poor, when they can get it. Life, in short, is grim. Yet the people look to the future of their kids, wanting them to go to school so they have a future. The club funded the construction of a school kitchen in 2020 at Best Future School, a free, community-based, non-discriminatory primary school started by one of the refugees. The kids needed something to eat in order to learn. Over 570 students are expected back on February 15 when their new semester opens as the school has become the hub of much activity, including a sewing center teaching 30 women to sew in each three-month cohort, to gain self-sufficiency.
The two projects in 2021 will provide educational supplies, build 10 latrines, 6 hand washing stations, and a water purification and bottling plant to provide 5,000 gallons of safe drinking water per day for the community. A total of $90,000 will be contributed by the Prior Lake Rotary, 23 other Rotary clubs from around the U.S., Rotary District 5960 and the Rotary Foundation. Thousands of the refugees will benefit. Kids will be able to survive, learn and have a future.
Strong local support for the Lakefront Music Fest helps fund these projects and many more here locally. The club donated a total of $220,767 in the July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020 fiscal year in addition to countless hours of community service. The club could not help others as much as they do without your support. TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More.
Article submitted to the Prior Lake American by Prior Lake Rotarian and community columnist Rick Olson
