From left: Kumbo Council Members, Ishan Tigunait, HI Humanitarian Projects Director,
Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Spiritual Head, Himalayan Institute and Honesdale Rotarian Blair Lewis
At a presentation by the Himalayan Institute on Friday, November 30, Honesdale Rotary agreed to support a campaign to raise funds for the Institute’s Global Humanitarian Project in Cameroon, West Africa—the Kumbo Public Library Project. Honesdale Rotarians are calling on clubs from around their district and the world to join hands with them to collect funds to establish the first public library in Kumbo serving a population of 50,000. In association with the Himalayan Institute and the Kumbo City Council, the library is targeted for completion by summer 2008.
“The work has already begun and the Institute has gathered more than 20,000 titles to date. By working closely with the Kumbo City Council and local librarians, they’ve been able to identify categories that are important to that region. The Institute is also donating industrial-grade library shelving. Climate control equipment will be installed in the library to help protect the books from the elements,” said Brian Fulp, Vice-President of Honesdale Rotary. “The Himalayan Institute Community Center in Cameroon launched a new Carpentry and Construction School now in operation in Kumbo. The school will oversee renovation of an existing building. Currently, the building is not much more than a shell with no utilities or furnishings,” continued Fulp. “Honesdale Rotary has agreed to spearhead the project and do what it does best–use its network to help raise funds within the Rotary family to make this library a reality.”
John Van Horn, Treasurer of Honesdale Rotary says, “With the success of phase one of this project, it makes sense that we move forward with phase II and support the library campaign. Working with the Himalayan Institute, whose track record for successful humanitarian efforts has spanned more than 35 years, we can quickly see the benefits of Rotarian funds in action. Honesdale Rotary was instrumental in sponsoring the creation of the first Rotary Club of Kumbo, Cameroon. Honesdale Rotarians, Kumbo Rotarians and the Himalayan Institute are working side-by-side on this worthwhile endeavor.”
If you’d like to get involved, call Brian Fulp at 570-647-1514, to see how you can help. For more information about the Himalayan Institute’s Global Humanitarian projects visit HimalayanInstitute.org.
