NEWARK ROTARY CLUB-GARY BAKER

Gary Baker is a true Rotarian, during the past several years he has been on a mission to make sure a small African Village could create a water supply.

Gary introduced the program for our meeting this past Tuesday. Afterward I asked Gary for his introduction of Sunny Akuopha to share and then Bill Cost for one his photos with Gary and Sunny. Most important, this project represents what an improved infrastructure and schools can do for a community, please make sure to read the last paragraph:

bio:
Past President Sunny AKUOPHA PHF+4 Saphirs Is a Technical Economist , working for Mali's World Bank Independent power development agency for Rural areas of Mali. He also works for The Netherlands Int Cooperation for Renewable Energy Projects ( Solar, Wind and Bio Diesel Production) in Mali.He occupies the post of Clubs projects Director in his local Club Bamako Amitié, he is his Multi District 9100 WCS committee Member and Mali Country Chairman 2007-2010. He has been designated to take of His District World Community Service Chair ( WCS) 2010-2013, at the crucial period of New Future Vision Plan for Rotary of which his District in one of the pilot districts.And also charged by his DGE 9100 to be his special representative for and create during the next Rotary year 5 more clubs for Mali, Sunny has now 8 new clubs on his drawing board.

He does fund raising activities for several local Mali NGOs with the Plymouth-Timbuktu Charity rallly from the UK every year since 2007. He is very famous in Cumbria - the Lake District of North West England which he guided their famous Pink ice van from Cumbria to Timbuktu.Sunny has 2 children and has adopted 4.A life Rotarian who came into the Rotary Family as a Rotaractor 24 years ago. He served as a HOC ambassador during the last RI convention in Birmingham , he was at the END POLIO Stand happily seeing Rotarians peeling off I MADE DREAMS REAL OR END POLIO and signing their names on the board with £5 to End Polio funds .

Why he is here….
Koulouniko
Koulouniko, Mali, Africa. As of March, 2009, the water well reservoir system is distributing fresh, clean drinking water to 3000 villagers. Funding for the $25,100 project was provided by a Rotary International Matching Grant, District 6690, the Bamako Amitie Rotary Club and the Newark Rotary Club. The Bamako Amitie Rotary, our international partner, managed the construction and is currently monitoring the maintenance of the well. Our rotary club contributed $10,000 to this, our first Blue Ribbon International project.

Sunny Akuopha thanked Nelson for the opportunity to speak to the Newark Rotary Club. “Our clubs have a life long friendship because of our effort to build the water well in Koulouniko. For more than 40 years, many people asked the government for clean drinking water for the villagers of Koulouniko and no one came. But Newark Rotary was like a dream from heaven. Koulouniko is located just 30 kilometers from the capitlol city of Bamako and is negelected because of its location. Since the installation of the well, a school has been built. The problem now is that too, many people want to move to Koulouniko because of the water and the school.” Mr. Akuopha offered an African piece of art work that was bought by Glen Able. Mr. Akuopha expressed his gratitude for allowing him to visit the Newark Rotary club.

Way to go Gary and the Newark Rotary Club for helping once again.