Marilyn Phelan from Edmonton Glenora with our little 'helpers'
The site as you notice has a 2 cinder block high perimeter. This was a great large space for a playground. The land is owned by the community and sponsored by Scotia Bank. Scotia Bank is developing a larger 'Scotia People's Park' which will include a wee children smaller playground, a baseball and soccer field right next door to the small community library. The library needs more current magazines and children's books by the way. This is a great example of partnerships that make projects successful. The local Dangriga Rotary club utilized the yard of a former Rotarian to store equipment. This Rotarian also helped to host us on our day off. The incoming District Governor for 2012-12 Andrew Lopez and the current Assistant District Governor, Jeannie from Placencia are totally on side with the playground projects and their link to Literacy.
The local Ministry of Public Works, which is funded on a District basis loaned gravel and sand trucks and front end loaders to the project . The Scotia Bank secured the land and hired workers to build the concrete surround for the playground. The Emmanuel Foundation from Alberta supplied the playground equipment at very low cost and arranged for the design and an excellent installer. Our installer, Randy Atchinson from GPI Construction in Calgary was truly amazing at not only building but people and project management.
Some of our group: L. to R Andrew Phelan,son of Marilyn Phelan from Edmonton Glenora Rotary. Ivan and Judith Williams: Judith is past president and really the driver for this project. Marice Fofonoff, non Rotarian helping the Glenora club, local helper Alyssa, Libby Weir, Rotarian from the Jasper Club, Roy, our amazing muscle from Belize, Micah Dueck, standing with children, son of an Edmonton Glenora Rotarian and last, but not least, Randy Atchinson, our Installer from Calgary, Alberta. Randy travelled down on behalf of the Emmannuel Foundation. He donates two weeks each year to that organization doing a playground build somewhere in the world. We were very happy he chose the Rotary build this year!!!
Now how does this slide go together? That's Andrews waiting for the slide!
Come on girls.........let's just lift up this slide. Ha Ha That's Randy, Libby Weir from Jasper and Rose Bauer at the back from Calgary, friend of the Jasper Rotary Club.
That's our super painter, Marilyn Phelan. When the paint dried she walked right across!!!!
Libby is a painter................really, she is an artist by trade. We were very lucky to have her spirit and work ethic with us!
This is Roy. He appeared on day one and did not leave for a minute until the project was completed. Turns out he was the father in law of the President of the Rotary club. He was a great go between the workers and the community of Dangriga. He spent a lot of time with us both on the playground and off with our team.
Local students used work experience time to help with the project. It would have been good to have had some Interact Students on this project as well.
Here are the Scotia Bank girls on the last day. They worked right along with us digging holes and painting through out the whole project, then cut the ribbon at the end.
Painty girls with Ray
Have I mentioned the partnerships! This is the magic of a playground build: Here they are again:
Rotary Clubs of District 5370: Edmonton Whyte Ave, Sherwood Park, Nisku-Leduc, Edmonton Glenora
Rotary Clubs of District 4250 Belize, Incoming District Gov, Andre Lopez, Placencia Club and Assis. Governor, Dangriga club, Emmanuel Foundation from Alberta, Scotia Bank, the Ministry of Public Works and the Dangriga Playground committee which had membership from all of the above, plus the neighbours and businesspeople from the community. All contributed to a very successful build.
More later on our final day and what we did on our rest day......................
