our history
Rotary is well known for their Polio Eradication project - but what if an entire Rotary District of 58 clubs and 2,500 members gave their support to to a single village somewhere in the world. What kind of a difference could be made?
In September of 2006, Rotary District 5330 Governor Elect Mark Howison witnessed a presentation by Dr. Scott Kellerman about the Batwa Pygmies in Uganda, and had an idea. What if our District of 58 clubs could combine our matching grant power to change the lives of less privileged people in a village like Scott had done.
In October of 2006, the Governor, Governor-Elect Mark Howison, and Governor-Nominee Robin Shepherd formalized a multi-year plan to adopt a village where we could make a difference, and asked Steve and Vicky Wallace to travel to some of the poorest areas of India and Africa looking for this opportunity.
Steve and Vicky found Oduoro* Village in Uganda. By 2007, planning was well underway, with several projects were identified.
In January of 2008, a group of Rotarians, including now Governor Mark Howison and his wife Barbara visited this village in Uganda.
Upon arrival in Uganda, it was discovered that a pump at the school in Oduoro was broken. Governor Mark immediately approved the funds to fix this pump (see the guy in the white tennis hat in the YouTube video).
On their return from Uganda, Mark and Barbara shared their experience with their daughter Shannon Riggs, who was producing the movie BLUE. When Shannon saw the impact we could have, she shared it with the cast and crew of BLUE and her friends - this and the Facebook Virtual Village sites are the result.
*The alternate spellings is Oduworo.