On March 26 through March 31, 2006, five Clarksville “ Sunrise” Rotary Club members along with four spouses/children traveled to the city of Valle Hermosa, Mexico, to work on not just one, but three humanitarian projects for 2006. Last year the Club built seventeen water purification units for families of Las Higuillerias, Mexico. This year Sunrise Rotarians constructed six new prototype water purification systems, completed the construction of an educational facility for special needs students, and began construction of a free health clinic.

The Clarksville “Sunrise” Rotary Mexico 2006 Team

(l-r) Front row – Floyd Mann; Jeanette Neiman; Don Beck, Past President 2004-2005; Second row – Rob Neiman; Sam Bingham; Mitch Robinson, President-elect 2006-2007; David Dueker; Back row – Justin Hupp; Tom Dueker, 2005-2006 President

The new water purification prototypes will be delivered to families residing in and around Las Higuillerias, Mexico. Families cannot use well water because it is at sea level and heavy metals and other contaminants make well water unusable. They spend up to $35 per month for drinking water which is about half of the family’s monthly income. Obviously, possessing a water purification unit has a tremendous economic and quality-of-life impact on the lives of these families.

Once the units meet stringent testing, an additional nineteen will be built. The new units were modified to eliminate the need for expensive silicone caulking. This change reduced the overall cost per unit by $100. In addition, the way units are cleaned was improved by installing removable rather that fixed glass tops.

The second project for this year was the completion of an education building for special needs citizens. Rotarians spent four days installing paneling and trim and reconfiguring an exterior wall. The building addition doubles the space available for the school and replaces an aging, termite-infested structure.

The third project for 2006 was the construction of a block building, which will become a free health clinic operated by a local group of volunteers called “Generous Hands.” The clinic will offer a variety of service including eye exams for residents of Valle Hermosa. Our Sunrise Rotary team members had generous hands as well as calloused hands when they finished the walls of this building. Members moved concrete blocks, mixed mortar, laid blocks and everything else associated with block wall construction. The days were long and laborious, but everyone was excited and pleased with the outcome.

On our final evening in Mexico, Tom Dueker presented the Generous Hands chairperson a $500 check for furniture for the health clinic. What a wonderful way to end a rewarding and fulfilling week for the Clarksville Sunrise Rotary Club.