International projects are moving forward in Honduras.
 
Bob Ruehl has just returned from his 34th international service trip where he attended Uniendo Project Fair. Uniendo America 2017 was held at a beautiful resort on the beach in El Salvador at the end of January and provided a chance for local clubs to showcase their international service projects to prospective partners. After the project fair, Bob traveled to Honduras where he visited La Casa de la Nina, an orphanage for girls that is supported by Rotary District 6600. Bob says that over the years, he's watched young girls come into the orphanage and mature in young ladies, two of whom District 6600 is now supporting in college where one is studying to be a nurse and one is studying to be a doctor. Bob also met with our partners for the $200,000 sanitation and hygiene education project in the Merendón Mountains. We'll be constructing up to 130 demonstration latrines and sanitation solutions in five selected pilot villages, and the program could grow to as many as 2,000 latrines. Bob says a big part of this project is educating children on the use of latrines and proper sanitation, such as hand washing. He encourages all Rotarians to join him on these international service trips and make a difference in the lives of people who really need it.
Also at Monday's meeting, President Dave told us that our club's first Reverse Raffle was a huge success, raising more than $16,000 for the Lima Rotary Foundation. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped out!