During the month of September, a team of eight Rotarians — including three from the Rotary Club of Wilsonville — traveled to the city of La Plata Hula, Colombia, South America, to help with service projects and participate in cultural exchange.
The eight-day trip took place from September 20–27. Participating were Pat Wolfram, Jaimy Beltran and Lauretta MacColman of the Rotary Club of Wilsonville; Doug Cain, Karen Hall, Stephen Phillips and Rachelle Phillips of the Newberg Early Bird Rotary Club; and Renee Brouse of the Rotary Club of Sherwood. Brouse is also currently serving as district governor for Rotary District 5100, which covers slices of northern Oregon and southern Washington state. Wolfram is currently serving as an assistant district governor, and also chairs the Wilsonville club’s Community Service Committee.
On December 7, the Wilsonville Rotarians who traveled to Colombia will be speakers at that week’s luncheon program, and share what they learned on their trip. The meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. at Black Bear Diner, 30175 S.W. Parkway Ave., Wilsonville. Visitors are welcome. Lunch can be ordered from the menu.
The Oregon delegation to Colombia arrived after a 4,100-mile journey bearing special gifts for the La Plata Rotarians — seven Portland Timbers jerseys, each signed by the entire team, including five team members who are Colombian (Dairon Asprilla, Diego Chara, Yimi Chara, Juan Mosqueara and Santiago Moreno). One jersey was presented to each of the seven host families for the guest Rotarians visiting from Oregon.
“The jerseys were a big hit — they loved them,” Wolfram said.
During their time in Colombia, the visiting Rotarians helped the La Plata Rotarians repair and upgrade the town square for the city of more than 61,000 people.
“It was a great community gathering,” said Wolfram. “There were dozens of people working side-by-side, repairing broken park benches and painting rusted fences. It looks so nice now. We went by there a couple times afterward, and the town really uses that space, now more safely.
The Wilsonville, Sherwood and Newberg Early Bird clubs comprise a Joint International Service Committee for the ongoing purpose of performing international service projects, in Colombia and elsewhere.
Wilsonville is the newest addition to this committee, and the three Wilsonville Rotarians participating were making their first visit to Colombia in this capacity. However, one of the Wilsonville members, Beltran, is Colombian-American and has been to the country before, just not with Rotary.
“My observation is the Rotarians from Wilsonville added a high level of leadership and integrity to this trip,” said Jane VanKuren, a Sherwood Rotarian who has participated in past trips. “They seemed to have the interest and insights that will add to future Rotary Global Grants.”
The partnership between these local Rotary clubs and the La Plata club started in 2010. Pete Miller, owner of Caravan Coffee in Newberg, had connections with coffee businesses in Colombia, and that started the ball rolling. A group of six Rotarians participated in the first trip to Colombia in 2011.
Brouse has traveled there every year since, except during COVID-related shutdowns, and has built strong relationships to open the door for international service and fellowship.
“We all felt the love for her throughout the entire week we were there,” Wolfram said.
The joint committee is chaired by Amy Ouellette, a member of the Newberg Early Birds. Its past projects in Colombia have dealt with water, sanitation and hygiene.
“Over the last 10 years, we have helped build and install several water filters that provided clean drinking water for families in La Plata including local schools,” Brouse said. “We purchased two ultrasounds that transformed the way the hospital and medical clinic were able to treat patients in La Plata instead of having to drive a minimum of 2 hours to Neiva.
“We built three parks that transformed the neighborhoods and created a sense of ownership and pride in the community,” Brouse said. “The Rotary parks were then used as examples for other parks in the community. Crime decreased, business increased, and the children and families now had a place to go and play together.”
And that’s not all.
“We were able to provide 50 turnout coats to the local fire department,” Brouse said. “This increased the safety of the firefighters who did not have a single turnout coat. Instead, they would dunk themselves in the onsite pool before heading to the fire. We were also able to take 20 computers to a local school to help them with their technology class.”
Rotary clubs are known for creating projects to improve sanitation in clubs served by their international partner clubs, and this partnership has been no exception to that tendency.
“Our two biggest projects by far are the installations of sanitary units to the villages,” Brouse said. “[This saved] hundreds of people from unsanitary conditions and for some, provid[ed] their first opportunity for running water and bathroom and shower facilities in their homes.”
In 2019, the Rotarians supported a project to purchase a van to help safely transport La Plata elders who are living in senior residences and have mobility issues.
Over the years, 17 La Plata Rotarians have returned the favor by visiting Oregon.
In future years, the partnership should continue to flourish. The clubs hope to fund and complete a service project at the La Plata community center for youths and adults with special needs. They are also pursuing projects that could enhance vocational opportunities and economic growth.