Sunrise bulletin for the week of March 12, 2014
Hola!
It was Colombia Day at our Rotary meeting today, with President Ann-Shirley Goodell and Past President Matthew Lynam each sporting a Sombrero Vueltiao, the traditional Colombian hat. The 18 members who were there this morning were joined by DG Garry Shearer, AG Tom Smith, YE student Luisa Godoy and Jim Clarke's guest Brian Wolfman. Representing Fundacion Estructurar in Colombia were Jorge Cortissoz (our speaker), and staff members Ana Leonor Vivas, Gloria Sanchez and Maria Lucia Cortissoz. Also with us was Lucy Cardona from San Diego, interpreter for the Spanish-speaking guests. And, Jairo Clopatofsky, the Consul General of Colombia, also joined us for part of the meeting. A full house!
Paul Harris Fellow
Governor Garry had the privilege of presenting a Paul Harris Fellow award to a surprised Ana Leonore Vivas. She has served as Executive Director of Fundacion Estructurar for 27 years, from the very beginning of the 2 schools in Bucaramanga which provide education for hundreds of refugee children in their part of Colombia. Ana Leonore, although a member of Kiwanis, has selflessly provided Rotary-style service to the most needy families in her community. She was recently honoured by her government with an award for outstanding service and is a shining example of "Service above Self." Accordingly, DG Garry was pleased to add Rotary and Canadian recognition through this PHF award, which was earned by club members' donations to The Rotary Foundation.
Today's program
Jorge Cortissoz Cabrera was a banker 27 years ago and also President of his Rotary club and President of the local chamber of commerce. He, with a Catholic sister and a construction contractor, determined to do what they could to help the vulnerable refugee families in Bucaramanga who were at high social risk due to the guerrillas and the drug cartels that terrorized parts of Colombia at that time. Poverty is a big problem for these families, 77 percent of whom, even today, have incomes of less than 54 Canadian dollars a month.
Together these 3 gained support from various levels of Colombia governments, from banks and other corporations, from a number of Colombian universities, from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as American Field Service (AFS), from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Canada which furnished and equipped a science classroom.
Now Fundacion Estructurar operates 2 technical schools for 350 students and needs to expand the schools to serve more children. In addition, they provide programs for disabled children, for pregnant women, for nutrition and well being, and for after-school care in 60 small communities nearby. Plus, they advocate to eliminate child labour and to encourage education. In all, some 15,265 people are helped by the work of this organization.
Jorge expressed his appreciation to CESO, the organization supported by the Government of Canada which assigned Ann-Shirley to help them learn new and better ways to offer and finance their programs. And he is very grateful that Vancouver Sunrise is interested in joining the 2 Bucaramanga Rotary clubs in helping this group increase their community service even further. He also thanked DG Garry for his role in hopefully securing matching District and Global Grants from RI in support of this project.
Jorge closed his presentation by asking everyone to "Open your heart and be part of our Foundation." More information, including how to make personal contributions, can be found at www.fundacionestructurar.org.
Consul General Clopatofsky thanked Jorge for the work he and his colleagues are doing in Colombia and urged all of us to visit his beautiful country.
Adios, todo el mundo. Hasta el miercoles.
Roberto