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Missionvale is a shanty town in the outskirts of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The Missionvale Care Center was started in 1988 by Sister Ethel Normoyle. Of the 120,000 residents over 75% have been affected by HIV/Aids. The money from this grant will be used to supply tools for the community garden and technology to help manage the administrative needs of Missionvale operations.
The Rotary Club of Coronado requests your consideration of a District Grant for the people of the Missionvale Township located in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The grant would assist them in two areas of great need:
•Situation: The fruit and vegetable community garden is cultivated, planted and tended by individual families that live in the township. Each family is responsible for their own row of produce. By producing fresh produce the family is eating healthier and preventing diseases and malnutrition that is prevalent in the area. They have also learned to collect and properly store the rain water to be used on the irrigation of their crops as well as leaning the farming trade. This project would likewise improve the health of the mothers and young children in this area. Any surplus crops are sold or given to others in their community which is encouraging economic and community development.
Solution-Gardening Tools and supplies: The tools that are used in these gardens are archaic (i.e. sharpened sticks, etc.), broken and very much in need of replacement to continue their work. This grant would improve their ability to tend their crops and expand their gardens for other families to participate. Gardening for these people is a skill for life and for many it is what is sustaining their lives today.
•Situation: The ability to keep records and files on the 120,000 members of this community is quite difficult without computer support. Many of the current records are kept on 3" x 5" note cards.
Solution-Computer Network: In a community where there is 80% unemployment and greater than 65% of the population with AIDS, it is important but difficult to keep track of the specific needs of so many people. A computer system for the administration staff of the Missionvale Care Center (intended recipient on this grant) would not only assist them in this arduous task but provide disease prevention and treatment as they will be able to track patients. Additionally, the system will allow Missionvale to create a database of the children to better manage the basic education and literacy objective set out by Sister Ethel. The database will also assist those adults seeking employment opportunities.
The Rotary Club of Coronado is working with the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth West to assist us in administering the grant funds as well as assist with the procurement of the gardening supplies and Office Network System. In May, 2009 a team of 6 Rotarians from District 5340 went to Missionvale to assess the situation there. We met with Rotarians from 6 different Rotary Clubs in that area to develop relationships with them with the hope of doing future projects in this area. In May 2010 another group of three Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Coronado are returning to Missionvale to again assess future needs for this blighted area and specifically to meet with the Rotarians from the Port Elizabeth West club to confirm how the grant will be used. We will also coordinate with the staff at Missionvale to ensure that the funds are used specifically for the attached project list which they prioritized and provided for us.
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