Members of our International Service Committee recently crossed the border to see firsthand how the club’s support is making a difference—and how much work still remains.
Chris, Adam and Club President Jeff were met at the border by Ana Maria, a familiar friend who has visited our club several times. She took them to the Marriott where the local Rotary Club meets. From there, Club President Gildardo loaded everyone into his pickup truck for a tour of three schools serving very different communities.
The first stop was the English Lab, an established program where volunteer teachers—many from La Jolla Rotary—teach English to students on weekends. The facility has been in place for some time and remains in good condition.
The contrast at the next two schools was striking. The second school, located in a rural area, was badly deteriorated, with the ceiling in one building having collapsed. The third is officially designated as a Rural School, which means it receives the least government assistance. It was in the poorest condition of the three and clearly has many continuing needs.
There was, however, important progress to celebrate. At the Rural School, the group saw the completed remodeling of the bathrooms funded by our club. Seeing the finished project provided a tangible reminder of what our International Service efforts—and the generosity of our members—can accomplish.
Following the school visits, Chris, Adam and Jeff attended the local Rotary Club’s meeting, where they received a warm welcome from its members. They introduced themselves, shared information about our club and presented a check for $6,659. The enthusiastic response reflected both the importance of the contribution and the strong partnership between the two clubs.
The visit gave our International Service Committee a closer look at the challenges these schools face, the progress already made and the opportunities to continue creating meaningful change across the border.
