Rotarian Bill Thimke with the Sow Cow installed at La Molinda, Peru

The soymilk produced is given to those in need.

The story behind Outreach Africa began 30 years ago when the small 15 member Eshowe Rotary Club (ERC) in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) South Africa saw the desperate need for a secondary school in the predominantly Zulu rural township.  As basic education needs were unmet throughout the territory the club continued to assist. To date the club has achieved the building of 2700 classrooms and laboratories at 150 locations, and 700 water systems and 1000 latrine blocks.

The model that has proved to be so effective is that a local community will raise 10% deposit (these days just over $1000, a large sum in South Africa), then the ERC will find an organization or individual to provide the other 90%.  Engineers developed a simple standard classroom design, easily duplicated, so that every school would be easy to build and safe for students.  The local community’s investment means the people respect and care for their school.  The standard plan ensures that common materials and readily –available skills are used in construction.  The day to day management is done by the ERC and a management committee. 

The learners are between 5-21 years old.  Thousands of these children do not go to school due to a lack of educational facilities.  Often existing  facilities have the problems of poor sanitation, lack of clean drinking water and crowded classrooms.  In rural SA there are no libraries, movie theaters, or other places where children can learn about the world outside their community.

The Oshkosh Rotary club involvement and connection to the Eshowe Rotarians began 12 years ago with supporting Matching Grants from The Rotary Foundation to equip the classrooms and labs and build water systems and latrines. In 2007 two Oshkosh Rotarians visited KZN and came home committed to building a school in a community where there were only enough classrooms through 9th grade. The club joined in that commitment and has raised the necessary funds.  The club will continue to partner with the ERC to assist with meeting other educational priorities of the children of KZN.