The Matagalpa Rain Harvesting Project: Bringing Hope to Nicaraguan Communities

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The Coulee Region Rotary Clubs are working together to provide 100 rain harvesting and filtration systems to communities in Nicaragua. In this region, 65% of women spend over 10 hours per week collecting water for their families. By ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, the spread of waterborne diseases is curbed, children maintain better health and attend school regularly, while mothers can spend more time helping their families. Join us in this collaborative effort to make a difference.

 
I have been working on a project, Create Hope in the World: Nicaragua Rain Harvesting, that I am VERY passionate about through my Rotary club, Rotary Club of La Crosse-After Hours. In the spring, our club connected with Peter Schaller from Rayo de Sol who works in Matagalpa, Nicaragua to provide resources and services to the people in these rural communities, and he shared the need for access to clean water, “Access to water is one of the most critical problems faced in the rural area of Matagalpa.” With only 18% of the families having running water, the need is endless for innovative systems to find solutions.
 
What drew me to this project is the ability to continue the incredible legacy of my grandparents, Betty Baldner and Gerald Baldner, to provide support to this community. They have worked with Peter in his nonprofits since before I was born, and the incredible connections they have built in this community have always been something I admired about them. Learning more about the challenges in Nicaragua and hearing Peters passion for his community have been an inspiration to bring about positive change.
 
Our committee is working towards providing 100 rain harvesting and water filtration systems for families facing chronic poverty in 2024. Our project budget is about $100,000, and with the matching grants available through Rotary International, we need to raise $36,000. Thanks to the $10,000 contribution from my club and donations from other area clubs and Rotarians, we are only $15,000 away from reaching this goal!
 
If you are interested in learning more about our project, you can reach out to me, visit our project website, and attend our upcoming fundraising event, More than Water - Nicaragua Rain Harvesting Project!
 
This is where people can donate to the project through the District 6250 Foundation:
 
Online

This is the link for donations to be made online to the "Nicaragua Rain Harvesting – La Crosse RAH" through PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=AHT8SBQSK6LZ6


Check

For donations made by check, it should be written to District 6250 Foundation, and "Nicaragua Rain Harvesting" should be listed in the memo.

It should be mailed to this address:

District 6250 Foundation

ATTN: Brian Watson

4030 E Stone Ridge Dr

Milton, WI 53563


Donor Advised Fund

Any donations coming from a donor advised fund should be sent to the District Administrator – Hawkins Ash. They forward all checks received to Brian Watson. The charity name is District 2650 Foundation Inc., and the EIN is 45-5097111. It should be noted in the check memo or attached documentation that this donation is for "Nicaragua Rain Harvesting – La Crosse RAH" The contact is Brian Watson, and his phone number is 608-346-0763, and his email is bwatson4030@gmail.com.

The address is:

Hawkins Ash

ATTN: Rotary District 6250

500 S. 2nd St, Suite 200

La Crosse, WI 54601-4029

Links

Event Website

Or contact

Sierra Lyon, Foundation Chair, Rotary Club of La Crosse-After Hours
Executive Director of Abilities in Harmony- Adaptive Show Choir Camps
(E) adaptiveshowchoir@gmail.com (P) 608-433-3163