Wesley Kogelman and BuyATimeshare.com create a coalition with the Milford Rotary Club & Pure Water of the World to Make a Big Different in Third World Country January 19, 2010
Posted by Wes Kogelman in : News & Events , add a commentAt BuyATimeshare.com we believe it is important to give back to the community whether it is local or worldwide. Wesley Kogelman owner of BuyATimeshare.com joined the Milford Rotary 6 months ago to do just that, give back.
A group of 33 Rotarians, consisting of business owners, doctors and engineers started the trip from Boston International airport at 3:00 am to assist the general population of Danli, Honduras. The Rotarians first flew to Miami International airport, then took a connecting flight to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. As they flew into Tegucigalpa they had to avoid mountains, trees, and houses because of the location of the local airport. The group found out that this airport has the shortest international runway that jets can use to safely land in the world. When the group arrived, they took a 1 hour and 45 minute trip to Danli where they stayed at Hotel Granda.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4821944394358615074Saturday the group assigned themselves to specific teams, including construction, medical, clean water, and pharmacy. Ed Smith of College Bound Movers and Wesley Kogelman were assigned to the construction and clean water teams. Construction consisted of building a hospital and a classroom all in one building. The shell of the building was intact, but it lacked running water, electricity, tables for patients and landscaping. The main goal was to get the building painted and tiled, to install electricity, and to install working lavatories.
Wesley Kogelman stated, “The one thing that amazes me is the simple fact that these people do not have clean water or food but are very hospitable toward our group, especially the children.”
At the construction site, the children were trying to help any way they could. They worked extra hard in hopes we would give them money that would help make their lives a little easier. One of the children who stood out among the rest was named Franklin who helped the construction crew all week. By noon the group was taking a break from the intense heat. As they sat down, an ice cream vendor pulled up and Wes decided to buy ice cream cones for the 50 local kids that were helping us. It cost just $30.00 USD, but the huge smile on the children’s faces was priceless.
On Sunday, Wes and Ed assisted the clean water team, which consisted of providing clean water filters to local residents that currently drink directly from the contaminated streams and rivers. The clean water team provided 180lb filters to local villages so they could purify their own water. These filters are made of concrete and weigh 180lbs and if they are handled incorrectly they break. The people of Honduras do not understand their children are dying by the thousands because they are drinking dirty water.
The delivery consisted of bringing 4 filters a quarter of mile up a mountain with a dolly. The terrain consisted of big rocks on the side of a mountain. As Wesley and Edward were struggling up this mountain the locals were laughing at them. By the end of the first day, only 5 filters were delivered. On Monday, a gurney was built that made the job a lot easier. On the second day with the help of the new tool they delivered about 19 more up the mountain. Definitely an improvement, but the locals were still laughing. By Tuesday with help from a local named Attoro, the locals were employed to help carry the remaining filters. By employing the locals the rotary club helped a 100 people live a better life, by not only supporting their local economy, but also by providing them the tools to drink clean water.
Edward Smith stated, “The locals make us look weak! Since they walk the terrain every day, they know exactly where to go.”
With the help of the locals they accomplished their goal and delivered all the filters. This means that lives have been saved, which is Great!!
Kogelman stated, “All in all, it was an eye opening experience; I do believe we helped these people drastically.”