Penticton Rotary helping Bangladeshi villages

Photo: Penticton Sunrise Rotary

Residents of two Bangladeshi villages that were the focus of years of financial help from Penticton Sunrise Rotary.

Two years of work have culminated in two villages in Bangladesh having clean water and improved sanitary conditions, thanks in part to donations and fundraising from the Penticton Sunrise Rotary Club. 

The villages of Bariasoni and Yesufganj are home to 7,000 residents, many of whom are very poor by Bangladeshi standards. 

Work began in 2017 on several wells, holding tanks, connecting pipelines, a drainage system, septic fields, disposal pits and the construction of over 100 sanitary facilities. 

"This project has provided a significant improvement to the lives of the 7,000 villagers and has been a source of much pride among the people," said Songargaon Dhaka Rotarian liaison Sayeed Chaudhury.

Rotary arranged for training income-generating skills like electronics, carpentry, welding, motor mechanics, and tailoring. Additional instruction was provided in animal husbandry, vegetable & fish marketing, and handicrafts.

The Penticton Sunrise Club received financial support from Rotary Clubs in Sunnyside, WA, Sonargaon Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Summerland, BC.

The completed project cost $74,335 or 4.75 million Bangladeshi Takas. In addition to the project’s budget, the Penticton Sunrise Rotarians contributed $4,000 for the needs assessment that was required and completed prior to the grant submissions.

“As an organization we have connected with and improved the lives of people living on the other side of the world. It feels right!” said Penticton Sunrise Rotarian and international projects chair Barry Reid.