In fall 2005, Hurricane Stan struck Lake Coatepeque in El Salvador and caused severe mudslides that killed 49 people. Simultaneously, a nearby volcano erupted, which resulted in similar devastation.
In response to the natural disaster, 10 Queen’s Rotaract went to El Salvador in May 2006. They planted hundreds of tree seeds and built several retaining walls, 80 per cent of which are still standing, to protect the village.
Now, they want to go back.
“Our biggest undertakings were working with the local El Salvador Rotaract, visiting an orphanage and giving donations, as well as helping rehabilitate an area devastated by a hurricane and volcano on the same day,” said Kailea MacGillivray, ArtSci ’08 and Rotaract vice-president (external affairs).
Rotaract is holding a gala at Zorba’s Restaurant this Saturday to raise funds to the trip.
Last year, they presented the local Rotary in El Salvador with $1,500 (U.S.), and they hope to make another significant donation this year.
On Saturday, there will be a silent auction, banquet and a guest speaker from the Hunger Project. Tickets are $50 for students and $90 for non-students.
Eoin Clancy, ArtSci ’07 and Queen’s Rotaract president, said the group experienced how erosion and mudslides affected the community.
“There was a path going right through the middle of the town where mud stormed through each time it rained,” he said in an e-mail. “One night we woke up and there was a massive boulder just sitting in the middle of the village.
“We all looked at each other with confusion, swearing that it hadn’t been there the night before. It made the situation all that more meaningful.”
For two weeks, the Queen’s students ed forces with four students from the University of Ottawa. They volunteered in El Salvador and attended an international Rotary meeting in Nicaragua.
The Canadian girls’ willingness to work came as a surprise to many of the Central American men, Clancy said.
“The men were charged with digging holes in rocky ground in 40-degree heat while the women were told to form lines and saplings to the men to be planted,” he said.
“Many of the locals were surprised at the disappearance of their tools as the Canadian girls took them up and began digging. … With only two of 14 of our travellers being male, little would have been accomplished if the Canadian girls were afraid of physical labour.”
MacGillivray said the group spent three days in the village of San Jose Villanueva, building retaining walls to protect from mudslides in the rainy season.
“It seemed like an easy job, but the wall was 15 feet high and we lifted a few tons of dirt. It was labour-intensive, but the locals really appreciated the help.”
Vice-President (Internal Affairs) Emily Christie said when the group goes back this year, they hope to collect school medical and dental supplies, and attend a Honduras conference.
“A few tubes of toothpaste mean a lot to these impoverished communities,” she said.
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Those interested in getting involved or fundraising with Rotaract can e-mail Rotaract’s Vice-President (Internal Affairs) Emily Christie at [email protected].
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