| The Water Buffalo Bank Story: A new concept for Saving and Changing Lives District 7190, District 3270 and Kujer Village, working together in an all- night session, hit upon an idea that we believe will have a dramatic impact on the standard of living for the villagers in Pakistan. We are calling the program “Water Buffalo Bank”. EARLY VISITS We, Helen and Lon Penna of Glenville NY Rotary, first visited Pakistan in 2000. We were impressed with the outpouring of hospitality and friendliness of the people everywhere. Schoolchildren in the parks recognized us as westerners, and asked to shake our hand, or for our autographs! We were repeatedly welcomed in the villages with parades, marching bands, banners and flowers! This was before they ever suspected that Rotary could do something to help their village. NEEDS ASSESSMENTS After our first visit to Kujer Village, we were so impressed with the hospitality we asked the Rotarians in Pakistan to visit Kujer Village to conduct a needs assessment. The Villagers asked for covered sewers to replace the open roadside ditches. But with all the livestock in the streets, we weren’t convinced that covering the ditches would improve the health of the villagers. So we rejected it, and conducted a second needs assessment. Another item requested by Kujer Village that was rejected was water buffalo. Even though we knew one water buffalo could provide milk, butter, and income to a family of 10, we preferred projects that helped the entire village rather than select individuals. SUCCESSFUL MATCHING GRANTS Items that were accepted were schools supplies, school uniforms, drinking water and lavatories in the school yards, village computer labs and an ambulance, all supplied thanks to the Rotary Foundation Matching Grant program. THE WATER BUFFALO IDEA IS BORN In 2005, Lon and Helen returned to Pakistan using a Rotary Foundation Individual Grant, similar to the Volunteer Service Grants of today. We visited several villagers, and were again showered with roses and welcome. But this time, every village asked that Rotary repeat for them what Rotary had done for Kujer Village. We were inundated with requests. In an all night session Rotarian Lon, Rotarian Shehzad Ahmed and Kujer villager Iqbal Malik were sorting out the requests. Then Eureka struck. The village has already organized a Rotary Community Corp (RCC), complete with officers and weekly meetings. It is similar to a Rotary Club. The plan is to donate the buffalo, not to the farmers, but to the Rotary Community Corp. The RCC will distribute the water buffalo to individual farmers based on need (poorest farmers first) and ability to feed and care for the buffalo. The farmer then gets a daily supply of milk, cream, butter, etc. plus some extra to sell in the market. But whenever a calf is born, it is owned 50/50 by the farmer and the RCC. This would create an RCC not only with the desire to improve the village, but also a revenue stream to carry out their projects. THE SUCCESSFUL PROTOTYPE District 7190 asked all 43 clubs to consider contributing to this project. For those clubs where $700 was not possible, a half cow, or hind quarter, etc. was most welcome. The result was a successful matching grant that provided 29 Water Buffalo for Kujer village. The Rotary Community Corp of Kujer Village will thus earn about $8,000 a year! They can use this perpetual income on school supplies, water wells, health clinics, sneakers, scholarships, etc. When we hit upon the concept, the villagers said it was sufficient to do this one thing, and they could take care of the rest. We could toss the pile of requests. The concept also reduces jealousy among the non-recipients, because the whole village benefits. SCALING UP But then Glens Falls NY Rotarian Charles Adams pointed out that Rotary is good at doing individual projects, but we are not very good at scaling up. With a smile on his face, and a twinkle in his eye, Charles said, “OK so you did one village. Now you have to do 100.” The first step towards 100 has already been completed by the Rotarians and RCC members in Pakistan. They set up RCCs in a dozen other villages. Then Julia Phelps, DG of the Boston area, offered to ask each of her Zone 31 and Zone 32 classmates to consider donating as a class project, and pledged $10,000 DDF. Teaming up with Capital Region NY DG Harriet Noble, Julia and Harriet kicked off a Zone 31-32 Matching Grant. KEEPING IT SIMPLE for CLUBS and INDIVIDUALS Plus each district can elect to spread the enthusiasm by asking clubs and individuals to participate. Because so many clubs are participating, small donations are all that is necessary. Simply submit a pledge letter, and Lon and Helen will take care of the matching grant paperwork. THE ROTARY SPIRIT The Friendships forged are tremendously important. Some people consider Pakistan to be a breeding ground for terrorists. But not where Rotary is at work Recall the words of Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Kiser at the 2005 Zone Institute, that we will never stop terrorism by military might alone, but by making individual friendships across the globe. |
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