WFSR 2006 groot succes

Jongstleden zondag trok het sportevenement van de Wassenaarse Lions en Lions Duin wederom veel publiek. De Wassenaarse Familie Sport Ronde (WFSR) ging – inmiddels voor de zesde maal op rij – van start. Zowel deelnemers als toeschouwers vanaf (zeer) jong tot en met (vrij) oud dromden samen op het sportterrein naast het Sterrenbad.

In het zonnetje – de weergoden waren ons gelukkig goed gezind – was het in en om de feesttent dan ook een gezellige boel.

Rond het middaguur loste wethouder Alkemade na een krachtige openingsspeech het startschot voor deze ‘mini-triatlon’ voor jong en oud. De jongste deelnemer was (bijna) 2 jaar, de oudste was ruim voorbij de pensioengerechtigde leeftijd!

De sporters – meestal in gezinsverband – begonnen met het trekken van enkele baantjes in het zwembad 100 meter. Vervolgens pakten zij, na een snelle wisseling van hun kleding, de fiets voor een tocht over een prachtig parcours van 14 km door de Wassenaarse duinen. Alles vanzelfsprekend op de belangrijkste kruisingen goed beveiligd door ‘klaar-overs’ en met ondersteuning van een EHBO-team, dat gelukkig niet of nauwelijks in actie behoefde te komen. Na een versnapering onderweg en bij terugkomst op het feestterrein volgde het laatste onderdeel: 3 km hard (of zacht-) lopen door het nabijgelegen park ‘de Pauw’. Hoewel de snelste atleet het totale parcours aflegde in een recordtijd ging het voor de meeste van de circa 350 deelnemers puur om het meedoen, de gezonde fysieke prestatie alsmede de gezelligheid. Dat bleek wel uit het feit dat de meesten bleven nagenieten van de uitstekende catering en de disco in de feesttent, waarin zelfs een heuse fancy fair werd gehouden. Iedereen kon daar de mooiste artikelen aanschaffen voor een spotprijs, wat dan ook ruim gebeurde.

De opbrengst van het evenement bleek dan ook niet mis! Alles bij elkaar leverde het – vooral met dank aan de sponsors – ruim 25 duizend euro op! Uit allerlei onderdelen en geledingen van het Wassenaars bedrijfsleven en daarbuiten ontvingen wij steun in zowel geld als natura. In totaal 40 bedrijven waren vertegenwoordigd, derhalve teveel om allemaal bij naam te noemen. De hoofdsponsors KPMG Meijburg & co, GSH en Rabobank willen wij u echter niet onthouden.

Op de avond vóór het evenement vond er in de feesttent een BBQ plaats voor de sponsors en de organisatie, die werd aangevoerd door Hans van Norden, Joan de Vidal en Pawlik Snel. Hierbij werd bovendien een schilderij, geschonken door de Wassenaarse kunstenares Willemien Mulder geveild (Ook onze  dank gaat uit naar Voorham, Verf en Behang voor het inlijsten van het schilderij). Ook deze opbrengst werd meteen bijgeschreven voor de goede doelen, te weten de Wassenaarse gehandicaptensport, Villa Joep en een ziekenhuisproject in Malawi. Veel dank gaat ook uit naar de politie, de brandweer en andere gemeente-instanties, die het gebeuren overigens weer tot een succes maakten.

De apotheose van de zondagmiddag vond plaats rondom de klok van vier. Het merendeel van de deelnemers was inmiddels binnen en de voorzitters van de beide Lion’s verenigingen, Tjeerd Boven en Peter Römer namen het woord om ongeveer de helft van de opbrengst, € 12.000,-, ter plaatse te schenken aan Villa Joep. De cheque, waarop de namen van de alle hoofdsponsors waren vermeld, werd aangeboden aan Rowald en Leontien Steyn, de ouders van Joep die 3 jaar geleden op 4-jarige leeftijd overleed aan een zeer bijzondere vorm van jeugdkanker. Het dankwoord van Rowald Steyn, waarin hij beloofde, dat het bedrag voor de volle 100% zal worden aangewend voor medisch onderzoek naar deze ziekte, was pakkend en emotioneel en vervulde eenieder met gepaste stilte. Allen voelden dat het hierbij inderdaad ‘ergens om gaat’, dat wij daarmee gezamenlijk iets goeds mochten beleven en dat een jaarlijks terugkerend evenement als de WFSR – naast gezelligheid en sportiviteit – ook nog veel meer kan betekenen voor onze Wassenaarse gemeenschap.

Wilt u ook Villa Joep sponsoren: www.villajoep.nl

NSL PROJECT PROPOSAL MALAWI

Interim progress report on North Sea Lions Project 2004-2005 ZITHANDO PROJECT MZUZU, MALAWI 

With the final green light from the Board of North Sea Lions and after almost 3 years of discussions, planning, project formulation and securing the necessary finance, the NSL (2004/5) project Zithando (= Patient Guardian Shelter) at the Mzuzu Central Hospital in Malawi, got a flying start in August 2004. Lions Club Wassenaar-Duin together with Lions Wassenaar organized a family Triatlon with many local participants and sponsors. Later in the fall Lions Wassenaar organised a charity golf. Part of the proceeds of both events was earmarked for the Malawi Zithando project. After much deliberation it was decided by the Mzuzu Lions that the construction of the Zithando (Phase 1) would not be undertaken by a (local) contractor. Instead two Mzuzu Lions of which one is a Dutch civil engineer and the other a local businessman (and Lions vice district-governor), took it upon them to purchase, store and transport all the materials and supervise the construction. This has worked very well and more than 70 bricklayers, foremen general and other labour, from time to time supplemented by pipe fitters, electrical specialists, painters etc. worked for four months to complete the building, for which the Mayor of Mzuzu had laid the founding stone (picture 1). All materials (bricks, lumber, corrugated sheets, cement, etc.) and labour, was manufactured, purchased and contracted locally. The building is structually completed for almost 95% (picture 2) and the Mzuzu Lions have invited the President of Malawi for the official opening in February 2005. The size and lay-out of the Zithando as well as the quality of the construction has already given rise to many positive comments and also questions from other contractors how this was possible in such a short period of time. The answer lies in the joint local Lions management and the treatment of the labourers, who at the final farewell party sang, danced and speeched to show their gratitude for proper treatment in providing their food, their punctual payment and supervision (picture 3). There has been only one theft reported which is exceptional. A job well done and fully in the spirit of Lionsm "We serve"!! In the coming weeks both in Wassenaar and Mzuzu and in cooperation with the Central Hospital, the management structure will be formulated and implemented as it has been decided that Lions will initially be involved in patient and patient guardian support and management of the Zithando. A commitment for maintenance and staffing has been given for a longer period of time. Project expenditure so far for the construction phase (Phase 1) has been € 42.500, including some funds provided by the Taiwanese and two local Wassenaar Rotary Clubs. The funding has been made possible with co-funding from Dutch Cordaid, private donations and advances by Lions club and Lions members. On the other hand some project income from the Mzuzu Rotarians appears not forthcoming. It is expected that the total construction and management expenditure will amount to approx. € 60.000. That is less than originally budgeted. Phase 2, the purchase of several vehicles and the establishment of a transport company of which the net profits will contribute to the running of the Zithando and support to the patient guardians, is due to start soon. The finance for this phase should be from NSL funding which so far has not been forthcoming (except for a € 1000 transfer). The sooner NSL funding is forthcoming the earlier we may start on phase 2. It is foreseen that the project will be completed and operational at the end of the season 2004-2005 and that its total costs will remain within budget. Peter Y. Ten Arve, Lions Wassenaar-Duin / Andre Tuil, Lions Mzuzu February 1st, 2005. Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

ORIGINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL

Project  proposed by Lions Wassenaar-Duin, Wassenaar, The Netherlands (District       110 AZ) in cooperation with Lions Club Mzuzu, Mzuzu , Malawi (District 412).

                                   ZITHANDO PROJECT,  MZUZU,  MALAWI

Project Summary

This project  proposes to build a patient guardian shelter (in Chewa language a “Zithando”), with a capacity for 100 persons, at the new Central Hospital of Mzuzu, in Northern Malawi.  This shelter serves for cooking, sleeping, laundry, wash- and restroom facilities for those, often coming from very far away, who accompay and care for a patient, often a child or relative. In addition to the constructing and fitting of the facility, this proposal aims at raising funds for the maintenance of the Zithando and food support to the guardians for a number of years to come. At the same time it is proposed to raise income to assist the Mzuzu Lions Club in their numerous support- and relief activites for the less priviliged.

The proposal consists of a capital outlay part (for the construction) and an income generating part (to raise money) locally in Malawi by way of a transport activity.

The project is the result of cooperation between the Mzuzu and Wassenaar-Duin Lions Clubs with additional support from a Dutch volonteer in Mzuzu and a Malawian MSc student (from Mzuzu), studying in the Netherlands.

                                               Introduction

Malawi, a relatively small, landlocked and poor nation in Southern Central Africa (inset map), has not been previously proposed and/or selected for an NSL supported project. Malawi is one of the poorest  nations in the world. It is suffering from famine and the disastreous impact of HIV/Aids on the population and its socio-economic structure as well as from natural disasters (mainly floods and drought) and it is for this reason that this project proposal is aimed at Malawi. After 30 years of one-party rule it has commenced (with ups and downs) on the road of multi party democracy.

The country, divided into three regions, is about three times the size of the Netherlands and it has a very large lake (Lake Malawi). The population is estimated at approx. 12 mln. of which 45 % is teenager or younger.  As a result of HIV/Aids a large percentage of the working force and women have disappeared and/or are ill, resulting in large numbers of orphans and street children and families conmsisting of a grandparent taking care of  grandchildren. There is a high pressure on the medical facilities, but finance is in short supply. The country is mainly agriculturally based (maize, tea, tobacco, coffee and groundnuts) and possesses no mineral wealth (oil, diamonds, coal etc). It abounds however in natural beauty and has a well known hospitable and friendly population.

Mzuzu is the capital (population approx. 80.000) of the Northern district with approx. 1,5 mln. inhabitants.

Central Hospital Mzuzu

The newly built (2001?) Central Hospital (300 beds) in Mzuzu, serving the Northern Region and beyond, has been funded and built by the Republic of China and was donated to the Malawi Government and the people of Malawi. The Chinese and Egyptian governments are providing technical assistance and staff.  Because of lack of funds the originally planned Burns Unit, Eye Clinic and Isolation Ward as well as the patient guardian shelter or Zithando, have been left out. The Zithando project was earmarked  by the Mzuzu Lions for their possible support, but shelved for the time being for lack of funding. The NSL opportunity for funding  is well timed and the possible amount of funding is appropriate for the project as presently proposed.

                                                           Zithando

Hospitalized patients in Malawi are in most cases  accompanied by a guardian. Someone, often the mother of a child or another relative of the patient, who takes cares of the patient (personal hygiene, washing, cooking and feeding etc). The hospitals and their locations are not  equiped for this additional influx and these tasks and the conditions for these patients guardians are far from ideal.

The same applies for the patients and hospital staff, as guardians often sleep with patients and wards are crowded. Patients and guardians often come from very far away and guardians sleep outside (or in/under the patients bed), have no hygienic facilities, cook in the open air, just to name a few aspects. But their presence is essential for the well being and curing of and service to the patient.

In most of the major hospitals in Malawi a Zithando (patient guardian shelter) has been established. With running water for drinking, washing and laundry (outside washing slabs), electricity, cooking (fire) places, showers and squat toilets, these Zithando’s provide the guardians with basic needs and a place to sleep in a difficult period often (very) far away from home.

                                               Project Proposal

 Both supporting Lion Clubs are proposing the following:

A)    To support (financially) the construction and basic outfitting of a Zithando for 100 persons. The shelter will be divided into four sections of 25 persons (sleeping and living) each, two for women and two for men. It will have seperate (open fire) cooking places, washing slabs for laundry, showers and squat toilets. Two seperate storerooms are foreseen. The construction will be in brick and the outfitting will be basic. Estimated cost of construction and outfitting has been set at Malawi Kwacha (MK) 3.2 mln or Euro 30,000 (at the current rate of exchange of 1 Euro = MK 96.0145).

The building specifications and more detailed costing will be done at a later stage. The hospital has indicated its support for the proposed project and will donate the land. It will bear the cost of water, electricity and security. Lions will provide food assistance to the guardians and support the maintenace expenses of the Zithando. This is the capital outlay component of the proposal. Upon completion the Zithando will be handed over to the Mzuzu Central Hospital.

B)    In order to raise money for the future needs of the Zithando and also tosupport the Mzuzu Lions with their existing and ongoing activities to support the poor, handicapped and less priviliged it has been suggested to establish an income generating (part of the) project. Mzuzu Lions are already

-         Paying school fees for needy and less privilged students

-         Paying water- and electricity bills for twi schoolk for the blind in

Nkhata Bay and Ekwendeni (Mzuzu region)

-         Supplying foodstuffs, blankets etc. to these two institutions

-         Supplying foodstuffs to orphanage centres

-         Providing emergency relief to those effected by natural distasters

-         Organising activities and support/care for street children

The proposed project, in particular the income generating component thereof, is aimed at generating funds to support and expand these activities. It is proposed to raise these funds through the running of a transport company.

The idea is to purchase two, good quality,  second hand Toyota or Nissan vehicles ( ex Japan) with 16 seat capacity and 2800 cc engines. (To be christened Lion 1 and Lion 2?) From reliable suppliers in Japan they would cost approx. Euro 5,500 CIF Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) or Durban (RSA). With overland transport, customs clearing, permits and provision taxes, certification licencing and insurances the total cost for the two vehicles is estimated at  Euro 17,000. The running of the transportbusiness, providing transport services in the Northern Region, will be given in the hands of an experienced transport operator or trustworthy manager at a management fee. Mzuzu Lions are working out a business concept and operating statement.. The idea being that the net profits of the transport business would support both the Zithando and other existing Mzuzu Lions activities in future years. In addition to much needed transport services in the region, the transportbusiness will also create much needed  jobs (drivers, conductors, administration and finance) and indirect employment through, services, maintenance, accountancy etc.   

Cooperation, Management, Supervision and Control

The Mzuzu Central Hospital will cooperate with the project and will contribute in cash and kind. The hospital will provide the required land and will bear the running costs (elctricity, water, security) for the Zithando. Mzuzu Lions will contribute by assisting, advising  and making some plans and project calculations. They will assist with the planning, supervision and control of the transport business. Financially the project will be scrutinized with the help of Mzuzu Lions  (accountants) and  external controls.    The Wassenaar Lions will make arrangements for this side of the NSL project and will initiate special projects on their own and hopefully with other (local?) Lionclubs to support the project and raise addional funds to support the project and activities of the Mzuzu Lions.

For overall supervision of the project the assistance has been requested  from the Netherlands Consulate (hon.) in Malawi and from the Malawi Consulate-General                     

(hon.) in the Netherlands.  Support has been requested from and promised by Netherlands volonteers in Mzuzu  and Malawians (MSc.) who have studied in The Netherlands and contributed to the project proposal. It is believed that, with the commitments from various sides, a proper control both in the initial phase and at the later operational stage can be guaranteed.

On the use of profits from the income generating project the benificiaries will be involved (on the board)  as well.

                                                           Summary

In many ways this project proposal doesn’t differ from previous projects that have received NSL support. The weakest groups are targetted for support with special emphasis on healthcare, handicapped and orphans/street children.

What is different in the approach about this proposal, when compared with others from previous years, is that the project is for a substantial part presented as an income-generating-project in stead of a direct capital outlay project. This different approach creates risks and challenges but both the Mzuzu and Wassenaar Lions, with their professional and businessoriented members feel that this proposal contributes more to development (employment, services) and income generation  and support to the less priviliged than a traditional capital outlay project.  

The income generating component of this project proposal strengthens the cooperation over and beyond what is normally expected from a project proposal and cooperation between 2 parties.The involvement created by this approach is wider (expertise of different Lions members) and for a longer

term. It allows the Mzuzu Lions to undertake a project that they would’t have been able to consider otherwise for lack of funds and the proposal also allows them to expand and intensify  much needed support activities in which they are already involved.

Furthermore it is our intention to involve representatives of the recipients (Schools for the blind and orphanage centres) in the supervision of the income-generating part of the project. 

The development  projects supported by North Sea Lions over the past 25 years have benefitted different projects in many nations on various continents. Projects on the African continent have been in the majority with special emphasis on  Kenya (3x), Namibia (3x) and Ghana (2x).  Malawi has never been proposed or been beneficiary of NSL financial support.

It is safely estimated that  both construction of the Zithando and the operations of the transport company can be realized in the one year period (2004-2005) earmarked for the NSL grant.  

                                   Investment and Operating Statements

                                              Total Investment in Euro

Land                                                                                                   free

Zithando construction and outfitting                                               33,000

Vehicles purchase                                                                            11,000

Vehicles import and preparation                                                        6,000

Business registration and/or management fee                                 1,800            

Secured  parking                                                                                   300

                                                                                   Total  Euro    60,000

                                                        Transport activity

                                               Operatiang Statement in MK

© Lions Wassenaar-Duin