Tacoma Kat

RECAP: A team of 12 Tacoma/Pierce County folks journeyed to Lesotho in February 2010 representing the Global Neighbor Project. To maximize resources, the Global Neighbor Project joined with World Vision’s Sekameng Area Development Project in Lesotho. This comprises 21 villages with a population of 4900. An Area Development Project is a community-based approach to sustainable solutions helping one child and one community at a time with:Clean Water, Food, Education, Micro- enterprise ,Caregiver supplies, Health Care and community development. The teams that visited in 2006 & 2008 saw water systems under construction, and seeds being planted in community gardens. They met community members who were being trained as volunteer caregivers to help their neighbors suffering with HIV/AIDS. The Global Neighbor Project priority is to help the orphaned children struggling to survive in the... read more

The Global Neighbor Project team of 12 visited Lesotho to tour the Sekameng Area Development Project supported by World Vision, of which GNP is a major contributor. GNP is an outreach from the citizens of Tacoma/Pierce County, WA including the faith community, elected officials, community leaders, students and community volunteers to Sekameng, Lesotho, Africa in support of the orphans and vulnerable children affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Five of us had visited in September 2006, so we were anxious to gauge the progress of the communities in accessing clean water, fresh produce, and utilizing caregiver kits, school supplies,furniture and uniforms as well as setting up pork and poultry production, sewing and shoe making micro-enterprises. Pastor Dean Curry initiated the Global Neighbor Project, and this would be his fifth visit to Lesotho. Our team includes Bob Bowen ... read more

SOUTH AFRICA SIDE TRIP Our group of five left Lesotho for three days at Hueglin's Lodge in White River, South Africa, to visit with Rotary acquaintances of the Olsons who own the four star lodge. Brian and Frances Hyson met us at Nelspruit Airport, designed to appeal to the many safari tourists who land there. It is an impressive thatched roof, log beam structure that feels like Ernest Hemingway should be lounging in the bar to share stories with adventurers. Frances had visited Tacoma in 2006 leading a Group Study Exchange Team of young professionals on a tour of our Rotary District. They stayed with our club for five days. Rick and I had hosted Francois, but spent time with the entire team at Rotary events, social evenings and tours of Tacoma attractions. One of the ... read more