Rotarians raising awareness of Aquabox

John Brown of Kilsyth Rotary Club is an Aquabox ambassador and the clubs in both Cumbernauld and Kilsyth are supportive of the initiative, so went along to see the ‘Club 55’ ladies at Gala to help raise awareness.

Aquabox is a community project set up and managed by the Rotary Club of Wirksworth to provide safe drinking water, through the use of filtration units, and humanitarian aid to crisis zones around the world.

Since its formation in 1992, Aquabox has distributed more than 110,000 boxes to over 50 countries in response to natural and man-made disasters, helping hundreds of thousands of people in the process.

As well as a water-filtration unit, each Aquabox contains more than 70 humanitarian aid items, including cooking utensils, hygiene equipment, tools, shelter materials, baby and children’s clothing and educational items.

Over 60 volunteers of all ages give up their time to assemble the water filters and pack the aid boxes.

In addition there is a whole army of dedicated supporters who knit toys, jumpers and blankets and collect and donate sheets, pillowcases, towels, babies and children’s clothing, all for inclusion in the boxes which are sent out to people in urgent need of help.

The ‘Club 55’ ladies at Gala enthusiastically tried out the filtration pump, which instantly produces clean water from contaminated water, and inspected the variety of items included in the Aquabox, and they generously donated a huge amount of blankets, baby clothes and teddy bears to help the project.

Rotarians have also demonstrated the water filtration unit at both Tesco Extra and Dobbies and residents proved to be supportive and interested and very generous in their support, with more than £600 raised - enough for four Aquaboxes.

Cumbernauld Rotary Club treasurer Karen Morrison said: “Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Rotary Clubs would like to thank Dobbies, Gala Bingo and Tesco Extra for their support in staging the events and, particularly, everyone who listened to our story or gave a donation - your help and support is life-changing and life-saving.”

To learn more about Aquabox visit www.aquabox.org.