This was the submission for August 2012 and describes both the project and the Rotary PR that accompanied this:
Club: Rotary Club of Apia, Samoa in matching-grant partnership with donor Rotary Clubs from the Surfers Paradise area in Queensland, Australia.
Contact: Rotary Apia: Project lead Maraea Slade and President Douglas Creevey
Project:
The Children’s House of Hope (for SVSG: Samoa Victim Support Group) is a childrens' refuge that has been built to accommodate young children under-12 who are either been made homeless or taken away from abusive parents. Some of the children are kept in the care of the SVSG while their abusive parents or guardians are awaiting court trial.
Outcome:
The Rotary Club of Surfers Sunrise from Queensland had helped rebuild a preschool facility after the Tsunami in 2009 then searched for another project in the Pacific. Rotary Apia Club member Maraea Slade diligently pursued and convinced them of the idea of a Childrens refuge centre in Samoa for abused and abandoned children. After 2 years of correspondence, planning, matching grants applications, design and eventually shipment - the project was underway in July and voluntary Rotary members of several Clubs in the Gold Coast area travelled over in 1 week shifts and with local support of the Rotary Club of Apia and local volunteers the construction of the pre-fabricated facilty was erected and opened
Public Image Coverage:
Rotary Signage on the Building Front, Flags, internal Living Room signage
Articles in local media included:
http://www.talamua.com/a-house-of-hope-for-the-abused-children/
http://www.talamua.com/justice-vui-wont-tolerate-indecency-against-children/
http://www.samoaobserver.ws/local-news/projects/544-pm-opens-house-of-hope
Rotary Club of Apia Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.338891482868298.77277.256088727815241&type=1 - this has a number of pictures of the project.
Full Local Television coverage of Opening Day and Tour of the House of Hope.
