|
Rotary Club: Susitna Project Title: Water Safety & Literacy Projec 1. Describe the project. What was done, when and where did project activities take place? The Project has multiple aspects and functions to address water safety with children in the age group of 3-6 years of age in the communities of the Matanuska Susitna Borough in Alaska and Loretto Mexico. The project has the primary goal of preventing drowning in children under the age of 6 years old. The project accomplishes this by education, training, and emphasizing prevention. First, and most importantly, is teaching children from 3-6 years old to be safe around all bodies of water. This is done by scheduling a 30-minute presentation featuring the Josh the Baby Otter program that teaches the foundation of child water safety in 4 easy points. 1. Do not go around water unless an adult is present. 2. Learn to float before you learn to swim or go in the water. 3. Always swim with a buddy. 4. Always wear a life jacket when you are near the water. These points are reiterated during the presentation and a “Josh the Otter†book is given to each student to perpetuate these safety guidelines. These presentations took place in February through June of 2024. The presentation was given in 31 elementary schools, 3 Centers for childhood development, and 3 Pool training events. The presentation involves a “Josh the Otter Mascot†that is the cornerstone of public awareness of this program. The visibility of “Josh the Otter†at parades (Cities of Wasilla and Houston Alaska), large public events (Arctic Winter Games in March of 2024), and Public Libraries helps to remind children to be safe around the water! Also, as part of this project, the materials were purchased to construct Four new “Kids Don’t Float†Lifejacket Loaner Boards to be placed adjacent to swimming or boating venues in the Susitna Rotary core area. These Loaner boards are constructed with a banner showing “Josh the Otter†and a message to be safe around Water. 2. How many people benefited from this project? The Project trained 2230 students from the ages of 3-6 years of age, however the impact of these trainings extends to the siblings, parents, and the communities of these students. 3. Who were the beneficiaries, how were they impacted by this project, and what humanitarian need was met? With the ultimate goal of preventing drowning in children between the ages of 3-6, the benefactors of this program are the individuals and families that live in these communities. The humanitarian needs met by this project is Maternal and child health, and Water Safety. 4. How many Rotarians participated in the project? 64 volunteers participated in this project. Of these volunteers, 38 were already Rotarians, 20 of these volunteers formed their own club in Loreto Mexico, and 6 of these volunteers are now interested in joining Rotary. 5. What did they do? Please give at least two examples, not including financial support provided to the project. The presentation was given in 31 elementary schools, 3 Centers for childhood development, and 3 Pool training events in the Matanuska Susitna Borough and in the City of Loreto Mexico. See the Document Titled Josh the Otter Presentation Attendance for specific times and places of the presentations. 6. If a cooperating organization was involved, what was its role? • Alaska Office of Boater Safety, Provided materials, Life Jackets for Loaner Boards, and volunteers for the Pool training sessions. • Lotto Alaska- Financial Support • The Joshua Collingsworth Foundation – Provided teaching Content and Support 7. Income
8. Expenditures
District must retain receipts of all expenditures for at least five years. Please scan and upload to the project's "Documents" tab all invoices (be sure they are marked "paid"), receipts and/or copies of checks for the full amount of the project budget. By signing this report, I confirm that to the best of my knowledge these District Grant funds were spent only for eligible items in accordance with Trustee-approved guidelines, and that all of the information contained herein is true and accurate. I also understand that all photographs submitted in connection with this report will become the property of RI and will not be returned. I warrant that I own all rights in the photographs, including copyright, and herby grant RI and TRF a royalty free irrevocable license to use the photographs now or at any time in the future, throughout the world in any manner it so chooses and in any medium now known or later developed. This includes the right to modify the photograph(s) as necessary in RI's sole discretion. This also includes, without limitation, use on or in the web site, magazines, brochures, pamphlets, exhibitions and any other promotional materials of RI and TRF.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||