Granting Sanitation in South Africa

“From little things big things grow” has been applied to a host of experiences since it was written more than 30 years ago. From its origin as a protest song to a superannuation advertising campaign, the words can be equally applied to Rotary Foundation global grants. It certainly was the case for the first global grant awarded and completed by District 9790.

PDG David Anderson
Chair, D9790
Foundation Team

The seeds for the grant were sown by students at the Sacred Heart Primary School in Yea, Vic. They wanted to do something to provide clean water for a school in another country. They called their project ‘Buckets for Bores’ and raised money from their local school community by walking around with buckets on their heads to collect contributions for the project.

When the Rotary Club of Yea heard about their efforts, the club agreed to match the $1,000 the students had raised. Shortly after, during a Rotary Friendship Exchange between District 9790 and District 9400 (South Africa) the late Ruth Konig, a past president of the Rotary Club of Yea, presented the $2,000 as a debit card in South African Rand to the Rotary Club of Rustenburg Kloof, with instructions to “find a suitable water project”. They did – a bore was to be installed at Dayspring Childrens Village near Rustenburg. Situated in a remote community in North West province, the village and school had originally started as an orphanage for children of parents suffering from HIV and AIDS.

Through continued contact between Ruth and Cheryl Phillips, a past president of the Rotary Club of Rustenburg Kloof, the idea of a Rotary Foundation global grant took shape. However, during the development, writing and submission of the grant application, Ruth was diagnosed with cancer.

The late Ruth Konig in training for her Camino pilgrimage across Spain. Ruth was the driving force behind the Dayspring Childrens Village water project.

Despite her declining health, Ruth’s passion and commitment to improve conditions for the children of Dayspring never wavered. When she attended the District Conference in Bendigo, all who saw her knew it was only a matter of time. A little over a week later, in her hospital bed, she received news that the global grant had been approved – the first applied for by the Rotary Club of Yea and the first in District 9790. She passed away the next day. Having waited for approval, she could now go, knowing that the lives of many children were about to be improved.

The identified project was a plumbed ablution block with a biological water treatment plant to provide wastewater for the toilets and irrigation for the food garden. Flushing toilets with grey water would save water and stop the continued pollution of ground water by the waste seeping from the existing, unsanitary long drop toilets. The project was budgeted at US$89,000.

Despite several challenges faced during the implementation of the project, including local politics, COVID-19 lockdowns, unseasonably heavy rains during the construction phase, and the passing of Rotary Club of Rustenburg President Francois Pienaar, the project has now been completed – and
under budget!

During a visit to Australia in January, Cheryl, also a past Youth Exchange student hosted in Hamilton, Vic, told Yea Rotarians to never underestimate the value of the project to the host community. Not only has it succeeded in providing an improved, safe and hygienic ablution block and wastewater facility, it provided much needed skills training for local workers.

During a visit to Australia in January, Cheryl, also a past Youth Exchange student hosted in Hamilton, Vic, told Yea Rotarians to never underestimate the value of the project to the host community. Not only has it succeeded in providing an improved, safe and hygienic ablution block and wastewater facility, it provided much needed skills training for local workers.

In a country where the unemployment rate is more than 40 per cent, “The project didn’t just provide employment for a half a dozen workers, it provided employment and hope for half a dozen families,” said Cheryl.

The memory of Ruth lives on through the District 9790 Conference Walk she began in March 2012, which continues today as the Ruth Konig Memorial Walk. And, in the grounds of the Dayspring Childrens Village there is a memorial garden dedicated to the spirit, compassion and commitment of past presidents Ruth and Francois. “Aunty” Ruth would be pleased.

MAIN PICTURE: Children from the Dayspring Childrens Village say thank you to the Rotary Club of Yea for the global grant project, which provided them with a safe and hygienic ablution block and wastewater facility.