Onwards to Kalibo

Onwards to Kalibo

After 3 days in Boracay, it was time to leave the lovely beach and head to Kalibo.  A short sea crossing in a small pump boat to Caticlan and where we were met by President Bing, her husband, Rtn Vic and their daughter and taken on the one and a half hour road journey to Kalibo, capital of Aklan province.  We had a dinner with the host club that evening.

Next day, we were up early again for a half hour radio chat show.  This was followed by a visit to Aklan National High School for Arts and Trades: a school that provides vocational training for youngsters to fit them for work locally.  Only a limited number could afford the fees to move up to university from there and the school was very dependent on matching grants from Rotary clubs around the world. We met Hannah, President of the school's Interact Club, who showed us around the campus and escorted us later in the day when we viewed the plantation project.  

After a briefing on planning and tourism from senior staff in the Regional Governor's Office, where we had lunch, we witnessed the daily Rotary feeding programme for around 30 youngsters in the Barangay (political ward).  This programme lasts for 3 months at a time and the children are given a nutritional meal, vitamins and powdered milk 6 days a week. 

 Rotarian doctors also provide free medical attention and the children are monitored for TB and other ailments.  Another very worthwhile matching grants project

There followed a visit to a workshop that used fibre from pineapple and other plants to weave, cloth and make baskets.  A walk was then taken through a mangrove plantation where the sea has been driven back 200 metres in less than a decade.

The day ended with a club meeting in RC Kalibo's clubhouse where the team gave an introductory talk to the members.