DONATIONS FROM ESCONDIDO (CA) SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB PAY FOR TWINE-MAKING UNITS

Donations to SRE from the Escondido (CA) Sunrise Rotary Club and Rotarian Kathy Barton - facilitated through Ayala Foundation-USA - have helped to pay for several twine- or rope-making units that are then distributed to villages and certain families. Other units are used for training purposes.

"The donations couldn't have come at a better time," explains Perla Manapol, SRE President and herself a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Metro Kalibo (Aklan). Several typhoons late last year and early this year devastated thousands of homes, including those of SRE workers. Many more lost their jobs, thus creating an urgent need for alternative livelihood.

"One twine-making unit can provide jobs for five, even seven, persons, and the twines themselves are woven into nets by another set of workers," Perla explains. In addition, the typhoons opened up opportunities in an expanded domestic market because the rehabilitation of roads and highways that were destroyed requires the use of cocofiber nets.

"SRE and hundreds of beneficiary families are grateful for these timely donations," says Perla, who spends time in the U.S. making presentations about SRE's coconut-based project to various organizations. "No donation is ever too small. Just imagine, one twining unit that costs under $30 can benefit at least five persons," Perla adds. "I can't think of a more cost-effective livelihood-generating mechanism!"