Rotarian Couple Report On

Humanitarian Trip To Ghana

Harvey and Calla Sellner reported to Newtown Rotary Club on their recent two week trip to Ghana to organize receipt of needed material, which will be sent to Ghana by the end of the year.

Besides being a Rotarian, Harvey Sellner is president of the WHT Foundation (World Help through Technology) which, together with Rotary, is planning on shipping to Ghana 100 water purifier units, 60 computers, 19 boxes of books and some medical equipment, free of charge.

Drinkable water is not common in Ghana and many thousands of people get sick and die every year because of lack of what residents of the United States take for granted – drinkable water from the nearest tap. The plan is to put water purification units in clinics that service the needs of the local people. Mr Sellner visited many of the clinics to explain the advantages and the operation of the units. This drew such attention that the National Minister of Health and the local head of the Salvation Army took the time to have a meeting with Mr Sellner.

The government of Ghana realizes that the key to the country’s successful future is education, and the books and computers will help them in their educational plans. Many companies in Connecticut are upgrading their 486 and early Pentium computers to the newer, faster units and have donated these usable but out-dated computers to this project. Anyone having such computers and wishing to donate them should call Harvey Sellner at 270-7853. For more information visit the WHT Web site at www.whtfoundation.org.

While Mr Sellner visited the many clinics and ministries, Mrs Sellner met with the local people. Being a teacher she visited the local school and saw first-hand the difficulty of their education system is having since they do not have some of the basic needs that are so available here.

In one community, a mother asked Mrs Sellner if her child could touch her skin. They had never seen a person with white skin and wanted to see what if felt like, she said.

The local Salvation Army runs a small orphanage and rehabilitation clinic for young children who have lost a hand, arm, foot or leg. These children are thought to be a burden (sometimes referred to as “throw away children”) and therefore are left alone on the streets to survive, on their own.

Unfortunately this organization is losing its funding and Mrs Sellner is working to raise money, through her talks, to send to the Begoro Clinic so that they can continue their good work a little longer. So far she has raised about $500 during talks to her local teachers and a few Rotary Clubs. Calla Sellner can be reached at 426-6548 should anyone wish to donate to this fund for these unwanted handicapped children in Ghana.