The Gibsons Rotary Club may be small compared to other clubs in Rotary’s global network, but they’ve launched a huge project: to donate 1,000 hippo water rollers to the women in the community of Kgautswane, South Africa.
To help raise the $150,000 required, the club put out a challenge to the other 52 Rotary clubs in the District to “Help Us Roll 1000 Hippos.” Ten clubs have already stepped up to the plate as well as many individuals from the Sunshine Coast who have become aware of the challenge and want to participate.
“The hippo roller is an amazingly simple concept,” said Bill Longman, chairman of the campaign. “You wonder why it hasn’t been thought of before.”
The hippo roller’s innovative design allows the transport of water more easily and efficiently by placing the water inside its “wheel.” A full hippo roller holds 200 pounds (90 kg) of water – five times the amount possible using traditional methods. But since the weight is rolled on the ground, even a small child can easily manage a full roller over most types of terrain.
In many rural African communities, the daily chore of collecting and hauling water can take up to four to six hours a day. The club was introduced to the hippo roller last year and immediately saw its potential to help empower women and children. The club donated 35 rollers last December and when they viewed a video of the women joyfully receiving their life-changing tool, the club decided they could do much more.
The club’s first initiative was to invite other District Rotary clubs to join the challenge. But they also see the potential of using the extensive network of Rotary clubs across North America to create awareness of this simple innovation. In partnership with the Gates Foundation, Rotary International played a key role in the eradication of polio across the globe.
“The hippo roller is virtually unknown outside of South Africa,” said Longman. “So when you consider the global need for this simple tool – and the impact it can have on women and their families – our club is keen to be the spark that ignites another global project.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average person in the developing world uses just over 10 litres of water a day. Canada is one of the largest per capita users of fresh water at just below 300 litres per day. Providing clean water and sanitation are two areas of focus for Rotary International.
Individuals, clubs, organizations and businesses that want to join the challenge can contact any member of the Gibsons Rotary Club or go to www.rollahippo.com
