Sunflower Project

Following the successful trip in May to Malawi,the Club is now in a position to make our first investment in this exiting project. We identified an immediate need for pumps and loilets in the Lilongwe and Dedza areas, amounting to some £9000. We have been in touch with District and we are getting positive feedback that this project is worthy of support,given that we have seen the need at first hand. We have the local Rotary Club committed to the project and we have at least one other Rotary Club,Gota Canal, in Sweden and possibly, Harpenden Village lending support.

The sum that our Club needs to raise is in the region of £3,500, but this could be less given other Club support.

So how will we raise the money? Two members met the Highland Director of Education and gained his full support to run a sunflower growing competition through the local primary schools in spring/summer 2010. Each participating individual will be given a packet of seeds and a sponsorship form. They will raise money by sponsoring a unit of length that the flower grows. We are targeting about £10 per participating individual. In return we have promised that the school will be supplied with posters and, if requested, a talk on the project from a Rotary member.

There will be prizes for the tallest sunflower, allocated over the various age groups and prizes for the winning school. The intention is to involve the local press so that, on a regular basis, we can obtain some good publicity. The initial setting up is planned for January/February 2010 thereafter it will be intermittent until the final judging takes place at the end of the summer.