Maharishi University of Management business professor, Dr. Andrew Bargerstock, and Maharishi University of Management MBA graduate, Naya Raj Baral, recently submitted a successful grant application to the Rotary International Foundation.
Andrew Bargerstock, Doug Flournoy, Naya Raj Baral
The grant awarded on November 28, 2011 will support the drilling of a water-well for a community of 10,000 people at the base of the Himalayas in the Chitwan province of Nepal. The $45,706 grant will cover the costs of one borehole well, pumps, a 400,000-liter reservoir tank, and training on the use and maintenance of the water system for the Jaluke Community in Gaidakot, Navalparasi, Lumbini Zone, Nepal.
More about this project
During a recent trip to Nepal to visit family and friends, Naya learned about a water-well project that was presented by a local engineer to the Nepal Rotary Club. When he returned to Fairfield, Naya contacted fellow Rotarian, Andrew Bargerstock, who is the Director of the International Service Committee for Fairfield’s Rotary Club. Together with the Rotary Club Board of Directors they formed a team to raise financial support from regional Rotary Clubs and to develop the grant application for this project. 
13 regional clubs and club members contributed to raising the co-sponsorship amount of $16,000 for the grant application to the Rotary International Foundation. Funds raised for the project totaled $122,000.
Flag of Nepal
Dr. Bargerstock says, “Rotary is about relationship building and this project displays this core principle of our international service organization. The successful grant application emerged from the collaboration of Rotary Clubs in Nepal and Fairfield. Naya’s background as a chartered accountant and CPA as well as his relationships with people in Nepal were critical for building credibility. Another Rotarian, Professor Doug Flournoy from Indian Hills Community College and Foundation Chair of the Fairfield Rotary Club, was a key person in guiding the grant application process. Another important person in writing the grant was MUM alumna Beth Alonso. Additionally, our local club’s past success with international service projects facilitated the involvement of 13 Iowa chapters toward raising the Fairfield chapter’s portion of the matching funds. And, now, the successful roll-out of the project will be guided by all these relationships.”
Find out more about the project here.
Funds will go towards building a resevoir and water wells in Nepal
What is Rotary?
Rotary International Foundation is a worldwide organization with 33,000 clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. The clubs are not political or religious and are open to all cultures. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, “…provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.”
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Anna Bruen is a MUM alumnus who graduated with a degree in Sustainable Living. Anna is the resident blogger here at MUM. To learn more about Anna take a look at her introduction post. |
