Allan Sorflaten Presented Rotarian Spouse/Partner Service Award

Allan has been involved in international development volunteer work with his wife Lydia for the past 15 years. As a former employee with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Allan brings tremendous experience in sustainable agricultural practices and has developed training curriculum over the years which he has offered to countless community groups and leaders throughout Africa, Philippines and the Caribbean including Guyana.

 

Allan and Lydia signed on as CESO (Canadian Executive Services Organization) volunteers immediately upon their retirement 15 years ago. While on the ground in various communities throughout the developing world, Allan and Lydia spend time with local leaders and often seek out Rotary Clubs. Most recently during a CESO assignment  in North West Cameroon (2011/12), the Sorflatens met with the International Project Coordinator for the Rotary Club of Bafoussam, Ymele Paul to coordinate a Rotary school project  in the Cameroon.  Working through Integrated Development Foundation (IDF),  the G.S. Illum School near Wum was equipped and the primary building rebuilt while Allan and Lydia were there Nov/Dec 2012.  Funding was secured through the Rotary Club of Truro, Canadian Rotary Collaboration for International Development (CRCID) and District Simplified Grant (total budget of $5000).

 

The story of the GS Illum School project is shown in the following slide show: http://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/gs-illum-school-project-presentation

Here is an interview with Allan on location at the ‘Turn Over’ ceremonies held Dec 5, 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MRwd6rG3I4&feature=youtube_gdata

The school renovation project uplifted the entire community. Parents are more engaged in their children’s education and take pride in their accomplishments.

Following the Sorflaten’s presentation to the Rotary Club of Truro, there has been interest expressed by another member of the club in assisting with an aquaculture project in the same region, an extension of Allan’s Conservation Farming workshops presented in Bana and Befang in the Cameroon.

 

Allan wears the Rotary logo and carries the Truro banner proudly wherever he and Lydia happen to travel. Whether in Trinidad and Tobago assisting the local fishermen with the construction of small row boats,  building of the Fishermen’s  Market  at Barbados Bay,  in North West Cameroon helping to re-build a school or building a kitchen for an orphanage in Trinidad, Allan, together with Rotarian  Lydia, are making a difference in the lives of people less fortunate than ourselves.

 

The Rotary Club of Truro is extremely proud of the hard work, commitment and compassion that Allan and Lydia give to international development initiatives. They have developed lifelong friendships in communities around the globe and are shining examples of “service above self”.

Congratulations to Allan and Lydia.