Fishers Rotarians gift of water is the gift of life

By MIKE BYERS
Fishers Rotary Club President

“All it takes is one look in the eyes of the people in the villages and communities we’re serving, and you’ll see that the gift of water is not lost on them. It is clear, their new well is their most prized possession,” says Fishers Rotarian Valory Meyers.

She is describing the very happy outcome of the Fishers Rotary Water is Life Gala that will occur on Dec. 7.

Now in its 16th year, this event has raised nearly $2 million, which helps fund the digging of wells in the West African nation of Sierra Leone.

This nation, with a population of over eight million people, has been working to recover from a devastating civil war that ended in 2002. Fifty-three percent of its inhabitants live in poverty and 58 percent lack access to clean water, which contributes to frequent water-borne illnesses.

According to a 2019 study of the National Library of Medicine in Sierra Leone, diseases related to water, sanitation, and hygiene remain among the leading cause of morbidity and account for 20 percent of all deaths, and 4,000 children die every year as a result.

Armed with these facts, this Club envisioned a plan that, to date, has provided over 200 water wells, which currently impacts about 500,000 people annually.

Such a massive undertaking would not be possible without the help of matching grants from The Rotary Foundation, of which the Fishers Rotary Club is now on their seventh 100 percent-successful grant.

Another Rotarian, Tom Branum, has been part of the project since this idea was birthed.

“We are proud that 100 percent of the proceeds of the Gala go to fund our next grant application and will push our total number of wells to 225,” Branum said.

The Fishers Club has applied to the Rotary Foundation to participate in a worldwide competition called the Programs of Scale Grant, which awards one winner $2 million. Branum proudly reports, “This would directly benefit the people of Sierra Leone.”

The Freetown Rotary Club in Sierra Leone has been a wonderful partner, and they are responsible for selecting and recommending locations for the wells, most of which are in small rural villages, schoolyards, and near hospitals. Entire communities sprout up around these wells, which have become the central focus of the community.

One of the many benefits that these wells provide is that it keeps girls and women from having to walk many miles to water sources that are tainted; it even protects these women from being sexually assaulted while they travel to these sources. Myers relates that “these are hours per day devoted to the fetching of water that can now be used for girls being in school, parents working, and caring for their families. That’s invaluable!”

The WaterIsLife Charity Ball is presented by Fishers Rotary and will be held at the FORUM Events Center, 11313 USA Pkwy., Fishers, with the main event and event sponsor being the Celebrate Life Foundation.

A contingent of 15 Freetown Rotarians will be on hand to share in the festivities and witness Ed Gebhart, Chief of the Fishers Police Department, be recognized for his service to our city as the event’s Honorary Chair, and speak to the over 300 attendees.

Carolene Mays, creator of “Community Link” on WISH-TV, will emcee the event and The Doo! Band will provide live entertainment. A silent auction will augment a live auction conducted by Wayne Addison, past president of the Greenfield Rotary Club. Past auction items include IU basketball courtside tickets, local restaurant and private tasting experiences, vacation trips, suites for local sporting events, and much more including designer-decorated Christmas trees, and ready for under the tree presents for all ages.

Branum concludes, “It is our mission to give everyone in Sierra Leone clean water by 2030.”

For more information about the Fishers Rotary Club, please go to FishersRotary.org. More information about the Fishers Rotary WaterIsLife project can be found at FishersWaterIsLife.com.