Posted on Nov 01, 2018
Amanda Ottman, Jacque, Peg Duenow
Amanda Ottman, Rotary World Peace Scholar, currently the Rotary liaison with American Refugee Committee (ARC). She shared that ARC began with an emergency response on the Thai-Cambodian border in 1979, and since then they have responded to dozens of natural and man-made disasters and are working with refugee settlements in Africa.
 
ARC implements a broad range of environmental services, including water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion (WASH) and environmental health.
 
Amanda and Jacque shared information on the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda and the Changemaker 365 project.  Lakeville contributed funds to this project which allows Nakivale Rotaractors to take part in 365 days of “doing the doable” the funds given will be empowering refugees to effect real change through small $500 projects that are proposed by the refugees themselves. These accomplishments add up to huge improvements in livability within refugee camps. This program also fills an important gap, as these types of small projects are not covered by traditional grants and large institutional donations. Through this international collaboration, these projects will reach beyond borders to leave a positive, lasting, and direct change on the world we share.