AIREBOROUGH Rotary has been giving updates on its work locally and around the world.

Recent awards of five Paul Harris Fellowships to members and supporters highlighted the club's activities connected with the pandemic and the community. A recent zoomed International Committee meeting spelled out the projects being undertaken worldwide.

Spokesman Robert Mirfield said: "Because Covid prevented St Mary’s annual visit, the Global Grant report for the Computer Suite at Mnyakanya High School relied instead on communication and visits from the Eshowe Rotary Club in South Africa. When the school was open during the pandemic, the suite continued to be extensively used and the school still intends to introduce CAT (Computer Applications Technology) as a subject to help pupils’ future job prospects.

"The Yorkits sewing team producing sanitary kits for girls, including those at Mnyakanya has been on hold. Funds are in hand to buy briefs, flannels and zip bags and there is plenty of material to make the pads and shields once production re-commences.

"The micro loans project continues to perform well within the current global situation. Six loans totalling $450 have been made to budding entrepreneurs in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and India. The enterprises are made up of a restaurant, farming, livestock, fishing, motorcycle transport and fish sales. With the fishing loan already repaid the intention to recycle the initial funds begins to be met.

"Aireborough is a partner with New Zealand’s Takapuna Club in a Global Grant project called ROMAC. This provides life saving and/or dignity restoring treatment to children under 15 from developing countries not available in their own country. On hold because of the pandemic, this crucial work will resume as soon as is possible."

Mr Mirfield said: "Aireborough has two Aquaboxes packed and six further boxes waiting to be filled, ready to be shipped to disasters around the world. With the change to contents meaning more items, including the life saving water filters, now need providing by Aquabox itself, it is likely these will be the last the Club will transport to Wirksworth. The Club is indebted to Geoffrey and Heather Barton for the dedication, application and ingenuity they have shown over more than 40 years. They will continue in their roles as Aquabox ambassadors whilst the Club will instead make planned financial donations to this irreplaceable project."

The club has also decided to sponsor two young girls in India with type 1 diabetes whose parents cannot afford the four times daily insulin injections. Ridhima,11, was also given a school bag and contents and a glucometer. Purvi, 6, has received economic support for her family through the Covid fund as well as a bicycle. Contact Brian Whitham mitzibrian@hotmail.com to learn about membership.