Rotary project helping orphans in Afghanistan

Timaru Rotary project helping orphans in Afghanistan

The Rotary Club of Timaru has been brightening the world of orphans and poor people in war-torn Afghanistan.

In a gesture spanning the international divide between rich and poor and family disruption and death caused by unrest in one of world’s hotbeds of hurt and political turmoil, the Rotary Club of Timaru and the wider Rotary District 9980 have dug deep into their pockets finding $5000 to give to an impoverished Kabul orphanage for a solar energy project.

Rotary Club of Timaru president Mike Parr said this week the gesture reflected the humanitarian thrust of Rotary International and the Timaru club was honoured to be asked to help.

“Whenever and wherever there is conflict, a new underprivileged emerges,” Mr Parr said.

“Whatever the rights and wrongs of war, women and children invariably suffer.

“It’s a special feeling for our members knowing that even tucked away in the relative comfort of South Canterbury we can all make such a real difference to the lives of those less fortunate,” he said.

Seven orphans who are fulltime residents of Khorasan House Orphanage in Kabul and another 40 children, widows and poor families who are provided with food and school supplies from the location have benefitted from Rotary’s donation.

The money was used to install a renewable energy system for the orphanage.

Khorasan House Orphanage is a programme of the Khorasan Organisation in both the United Kingdom and Afghanistan.

An application was made to the Timaru Rotary Club for a grant of $5000 through Sustainable Energy Services Afghanistan (Sesa).

Mr Parr said the connection with Timaru arose because of Kabul business connections with Timaru-based renewable energy equipment supplier and installer Smart Energy Ltd.

“Timaru director of Smart Energy Ltd, Tony Wood, has a brother who is a member of the Rotary Club of Timaru.

“Dave Wood raised the project at one of our meetings and our commitment grew from that,” Mr Parr said.

He said the funds paid for a solar hot water heating system and a 900-watt photovoltaic lighting system.

Seema Ghanis, founder of the Khorasan Organisation said the system was functioning well.

“As part of the local training and skill development programme associated with the renewable energy project, Sesa has developed Tolo e Zana e Afghan, a company of five women solar engineers within Sesa who undertook the bulk of the installation of the solar PV system and hot water heater.”

“Because we were no longer able to afford to buy diesel, the solar system has resolved the energy issues that were constraining our ability to fulfil our mission.

“The children are also very happy to have hot water to bathe in,” Mr Ghanis said.

Rotary District Governor Lionel Wilson said the district organisation was delighted to contribute to the project, supporting the Timaru club’s initiative.

“We are here for those less fortunate right around the world.”

Mr Wilson said the Afghanistan project, while demonstrating the power and international reach of Rotary into countries that had never heard of the volunteer and charitable organisation, much less have active clubs, was particularly poignant because it was helping orphans of war.

ENDS

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