By Elizabeth Adlung
[Note: This was a talk that was originally publicized and scheduled for February 15, 2022. It did not take place due to technical issues.]
“I will never tire of seeing children drinking from a Rotary well,” he said. “It is a joy to see children laughing and playing instead of being sick from disease, all because Rotary funded a well,” says Walter Hughes, Jr. who leads a partnership of eighty Rotary Clubs in Switzerland, Ghana, South Sudan, eighteen U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.
“Rotarians speak every language of the world,” says Walter. “Rotarians impact peace and economic prosperity. People of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds are Rotarians. It means that we have friends all around the world who partner with us to make a difference in people’s lives.”
The Midday Rotary Club of San Miguel welcomes Walter K. Hughes, Jr. who will share stories of his work around the world and how he has been able to change so many lives. Honored as a White House Champion of Change in 2013, Walter wrote, “By expanding access to clean water, children are less at risk of being crippled by the Guinea worm disease which is transmitted by dirty water. The three-foot-long parasite grows in the body for one year and feels like a hot iron hit the skin when it emerges. Adults can’t work and children can’t go to school when they are sick.”
The Rotary Foundation, Rotary International, and Rotary Clubs undertake massive actions to help and serve others. “We invested more than one million dollars here in San Miguel in the last 10 years and other rotary clubs are investing millions.” Walter has helped bring 4.75 million dollars of resources to Ghana in 18 years.
Since the early 2000s, Hughes has led over 25 missions to Ghana in West Africa digging wells in remote villages and bringing fresh water to the people to eradicate the grisly, parasitic Guinea worm disease.
Hughes began his career as a programmer analyst for Mobile Oil Co. Later he was Strategic Category Manager–Technology Products at America Online (AOL). Read more about Walter at http://www.rotarygeek.com/walterhughes/
Join us this Tuesday, May 24 at 9:30am at the Hotel Real de Minas or on Zoom to welcome Walter Hughes and learn about his Rotary activities in Ghana. To attend using Zoom, go to the Midday Rotary Club website at www.rotarysmamidday.org and sign up. You’ll receive an email with instructions on being a part of this week’s meeting. Rotary is where neighbors, friends, and problem solvers share ideas, join leaders and take action to create lasting change. For more information, contact President Skip Essick at skipessickmedia@gmail.com.
Presentation
Rotary Invests Millions in Ghana
Tue, May 24, 9:30am
Zoom or Hotel Real de Minas
Ancha de San Antonio 1
Free
