One of our International projects (started in 1998) is supporting the Rotary Club of Libano, Colombia, SA
in bringing help to the very poor in two barrios in this small town of under 30,000
people. Those that live in the barrios are refugees from the coffee worm which has
destroyed their coffee crops and forced them to leave their small farms and look for work
in this remote town in the Andes Mountains. Bogata is a good five hours away They
have no where to turn as the government because of lack of funds has not been able to
provide aid. And there exists very little work in this coffee farm town. Much is needed
and a list of the projects is shown at right which our club helps support Libano Rotary to
carry out the programs. Much is still needed and one of the plans is to look for matching
grants from RI. Fr Brian reported, also that Libano Rotary last month started a Rotoract
Club with 15 young people. Their first project is to help a Nursing Home.

The new homes to be built to replace the old invasion barrio huts will be called “San Francisco Barrio” .
                              
 
  Shown is an example of
  the homes to be built
which will replace shacks
shown below.


 

  President Fr Brian Cooper of the Rotary Club of Libano,
  addressing the Mission Viejo, Ca, Rotary in early February 2004. Rotarian Brian was   presented with a   check from the club for $1,000 to be used in the Barrio Building Fund Project.

       

  We have finished purchasing the land in which we will be able to build the 32 homes for the invasion Barrio of Santa Rosa.

 Also we are helping with the distribution monthly,
of food packages, to 50 families living in the country side.
Rotarian Fr Brian Cooper is the son of George and Margaret Cooper. He began working
in Libano as a missionary three years ago when he joined Rotary. George and Margaret
have also visited Libano and have given us a first hand reports of the great help needed in
this remote mountain area.
   

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