Roger Clinton (left) and Bruce Harker pose with children at the old kindergarten that had crumbling mud walls, was dimly lit and had insects and other pests. Clinton used his own money to build a new kindergarten. Now Clinton and his wife Gerrie Harker hope to start building a main school to serve children up to Grade 10. (Photo supplied)
A local couple is now in Honduras anxious to get started on building a school in the poor and remote village of Esperancita.
Roger Clinton and Gerrie Harker arrived in Honduras in early December after raising more money for the project at a fundraising event Nov. 29 at Rustic Roots Winery in Cawston.
Clinton is a member of the Rotary Club of Osoyoos and the couple lives in Keremeos.
Last week the couple was waiting for rains to let up and the road to dry and be repaired so they could return to their adopted village.
“There is the possibility of riding horseback to get there, but it will not help us to take truckloads of food and supplies desperately needed by the families,” wrote Harker in an email, explaining that the road was washed out in many places.
The couple has now seen photographs of a kindergarten building they funded that was completed in the village after they left Esperancita earlier this year.
Despite being held on a freezing cold day, the Cawston fundraiser collected more than $2,000 towards the $15,000 cost of the school building. Previously funds were donated by Richmond artist Colin Foo and by members of the Osoyoos Rotary Club.
Harker said the couple might have felt defeated by the cold weather and low number of visitors early during their fundraiser, but just after lunch a number of people began arriving to purchase $10 certificates to sponsor a brick for the school.
“After lunch it all started happening,” wrote Harker. “We had people from as far away as Winfield, Hedley, Summerland, Kaledon and Penticton. The brick donations were pouring in at $10 each.”
Money was also contributed from proceeds of the wine and from donations at the door.
Harker said she is grateful to the many people who donated to the project and to those who helped to run the fundraiser.
Esperancita is near Trujillo on the northern Caribbean coast of Honduras. The main school building will serve children up to Grade 10. Clinton, a retired farmer, contributed $8,000 of his own money to build the kindergarten in 2013-14.
Those still wishing to donate can contact Matthew Tolley or Allison Baskett at Edward Jones in Osoyoos or contact the Osoyoos Rotary Club.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
Roger Clinton (centre) has initiated a project to replace a school in an impoverished village on the northeast coast of Honduras. His wife, Gerrie Harker (left), accompanied him on his most recent trip and as a nurse, she has helped the villagers with their medical needs. Presenting them with a Rotary banner is Rotary Club of Osoyoos President Judy Miller-Bennett. (Richard McGuire photo)
