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Rotarians Save Thousands of Children in 3rd World Countries

Rotary Club of Temecula, working with Rotary International to build peanut butter factories in 3rd world countries. Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is a condition that results from severe malnutrition. Although the condition affects people of any age, the most common victims are children between one and three years of age. SAM is a critical, global health problem. At the very least, it can stunt the growth of millions of at-risk children and can cause permanent cognitive and physical impairment. Tragically, however, SAM kills more than 2 million children worldwide each year.

More children die of SAM each year than of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. But, on the brighter side, a global solution to SAM has been found. It is as simple as a jar of specially developed peanut butter known as “Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food” (RUTF). Project Peanut Butter (PPB), Together with colleagues Michele Lescane and Dr. Andre’ Briend, Dr. Manary began experimenting with various ingredients until they developed the perfect blend to treat malnourished children: peanut butter, powdered milk, vegetable oil, vitamins, minerals, and sugar.  Previous treatments had 25-40% recovery rates, but with RUTF they jumped to 95%!  In 2007, RUTF with home-based therapy was recognized as the standard of care for malnourished children by the United Nations, World Health Organization and World Food Programme.

Rotary International, Dennis Spurgin, DC chaired a committee within Rotary and is introducing Project Peanut Butter to the Rotary world.  Since then he has recruited hundreds of Rotarians worldwide to support programs in many countries. 

The Rotary Club of Temecula along with the host country’s Rotarians has pledged its support to make the promise come true in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Malawi. 

On another battle front, Rotary Club of Temecula, USA and Rotary Club of Makati EDSA, Philippines, support a cooperating organization, PROJECT AK-47 “with “feet on the ground”, rescuing children soldiers from violence, slavery, sex-trafficking and possible death in the conflicted territories of the Philippines.  PROJECT AK-47 is in its 3rd successful year, turning children soldiers into educated students by setting up schools and offering scholarships to the children and families.   This year, Queenie, a young college correspondent in the Philippines, will report on the journey which you can keep updated on by visiting website: http://temecularotaryinternational.com/

Rotary Club of Temecula, International Committee Project Directors, Cheryl Peterson of Nonprofit Growth and Grants and Derek Thomas, CPA have initiated  a “Wear Your Support” campaign, offering colored dog tags with each saved child’s information,  to raise $100,000 to be matched in grants from Rotary International, which will provide tuition scholarships, backpacks and school supplies to hundreds of rescued child soldiers saved through educational opportunities.  The “wear your support” wall of donors will be posted on the website and in social media, showing support of this project.   “We hope to involve our Rotary Interact clubs and students at schools in Temecula, Cheryl stated “because we believe people care deeply for children in their own communities and around the world, today and tomorrow.”