‘You can’t save the world by yourself’
MI Rotary Club member discusses latest international grant.
Rotary Club of Mercer Island longtime member Vyvienne Stumbles always makes it a point to tell new people entering the nonprofit service organization’s fold that, “You can’t save the world by yourself.”
To prove her crucial point, Stumbles and the Mercer Island Rotary Foundation recently engaged in a three-pronged effort with the Eden International nonprofit in Antigua, Guatemala, and Seattle Rotary #4 regarding a vital grant to help construct a functional workspace for Eden’s intellectually disabled entrepreneurs to utilize while crafting eco-friendly wellness products.
After Eden co-founder Annie Jameson reached out to the Seattle Rotarians for possible funding (which they didn’t have at the moment), that organization’s Cynthia Chirot connected with MI’s Stumbles and Novelett Carter — co-chairs of the Mercer Island International Service Committee — to see if funding from their chapter was available. It was and $1,000 was earmarked to send Eden’s way.
MI Rotary’s partnership with Seattle Rotary #4, along with Jameson’s Rotary ties through a Rotaract club, is what drew Stumbles and her colleagues into the Eden realm. Jameson’s organization “provides education, job training, skill development, and sustainable employment for intellectually disabled adults,” according to its grant proposal. “Eden helps all people connect, regardless of ability, race, or economic status.”
Hailing from Zimbabwe, Stumbles joined up with the Mercer Island Rotary more than 30 years ago when the national organization began welcoming women into its ranks. She’s proud to be part of the first eight or so women to join the local club.
“Rotary is the one organization that has tremendous contacts in various countries throughout the world where even a small amount of money can make a huge difference in the lives of people,” said Stumbles, who appreciates that the all-volunteer Rotary is nonprofit, nonpolitical and nonreligious. She’s been a member of the grants committee for 25 years, having a hand in managing both district and international grants.
Other MI Rotary international grants have focused on working on diagnosing deafness in newborn babies in Mongolia, and training women to help test the health of pregnant women in a Myanmar village.
For Stumbles, the Rotaract and Seattle Rotary #4 relatedness was key in participating in this recent philanthropic and socially aware endeavor.
“(Jameson) knew how to reach out to Rotary and see if she could get funding to get it started,” Stumbles said of the special-education teacher from Seattle. “I felt that this is someone who needs the support of Rotary.”
Added Chirot: “Annie is someone who is a great example of a young person who was inspired by Rotary to become a global citizen.”
Some of Eden’s wellness products include beeswax votive candles. moisturizing hand sanitizer and lemon sugar scrub.
For information on Eden, visit https://www.edenporsalud.org/ and for MI Rotary, visit: http://mirotary.org/.
