From Govan to Ayr

Fellow Rotarian Drew Hughes, provided a vocational presentation on his time as District’s Governor and International Convenor delivering Sand Dams in Africa.

In effect a journey from Govan to Ayr and all places in between.

Drew, raised in Govan, is a pharmacist by profession, joined Rotary 49 years ago in 1977, and is a veteran Rotarian with decades of service to Rotary International. Prior to being elected President of Barrhead Rotary in 1981, Midge Ure was honoured with a Paul Harris award for his ​​​​innovative amazing Band Aid project by the club; Drew was elected District Governor in 2007 before joining Alloway Rotary in 2019 and most recently Ayr Rotary Club. As a former District Governor and International Convenor, he played a major role in advancing Rotary’s global health campaigns, particularly the effort to eradicate polio, and help in addressing hunger relief, and clean‑water projects in Africa..

Hence his involvement in delivering Sand Dams in Africa. Drew explained how sand dams work

• Building the wall: Workers build a 1-to-5-meter-high concrete wall across a dry riverbed.

• Trapping sand: Heavy rains wash sand and silt down the river. The sand settles behind the wall, while the silt washes away.

• Storing water: Water fills the spaces between the sand grains. Sand holds up to 40% of its volume in water.

• Protecting supply: Sand stops water from evaporating in the hot sun and keeps out bugs and germs.

Drew continued to detail the benefits for local communities.

• Saving time: Women and children no longer walk hours every day to find water.

• Better health: Clean water stops water-borne sickness and helps people stay clean.

• Farming and food: Communities grow crops and feed their animals during dry months.

• Low cost: The dams use basic materials and last for many years.

One of Drew’s special experiences was meeting a group of Maasai Warriors when in Kenya who insisted on demonstrate their traditional jumping dance (Adumo) to display physical strength and agility. Drew said he didn’t participate.

Howard Stevenson gave a worthy vote of thanks.