The Rotary Club of Ojai, California, has had International projects in Niger and India for many years. During these challenging times of Covid-19 pandemic and economic disruption, we are focused on finding ways to help these communities face the threat of illness and food insecurity.
 
 
The Rotary Club of Ojai, California, has had International projects in Niger and India for many years. During these challenging times of Covid-19 pandemic and economic disruption, we are focused on finding ways to help these communities face the threat of illness and food insecurity.
 
Niger: The Wodaabe Nomad women annually cross borders to neighboring countries to sell their traditional medicines. They are returning home by public transportation in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the women return home, they bring a huge risk of exposure to COVID-19 for their communities. The Rotary Club of Ojai supported the Nomad Foundation, Ojai, in providing 75 hand-washing stations, 75 barrels of soap, and two trainers plus transportation costs to help these normally isolated communities understand the risks of Covid-19 and to learn how to better protect themselves.
 
India: Rotary Club of Ojai’s ongoing Global Grant in partnership with the Rotary Club Srikshetra, Puri, benefits Prashanti International School (PIS), an English immersion school for poor and underserved village families. India’s lockdown to slow the spread of Covid-19, has meant that all schools are closed, and the children are back in their villages. Many families of these children and others in the slum areas live hand-to-mouth doing manual work, as servants, or even begging at the temples. They have little food and many fall through the gaps in the government emergency ration programs. Normally, these families rely on cooked food given daily by churches and temples, but all churches and temples remain closed.
 
On May 1st, with the help of PIS staff and alumni, the Rotary Clubs of Ojai and Srikshetra Puri in partnership with World Family Foundation, Ojai, provided essential food items to 70 of the most needy families. Each parcel contained 34 pounds of grains and pulses, 2 liters of cooking oil, sugar, salt, cleaning powder, and matches.