Below is an update on a former Rotary Exchange student Sarah Laughton from St. Catharines (1988-89) to Columbia.She was also a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to the London School of Economics and has worked all over the world for the Nobel Peace Prize winning branch of the UN, the World Food Program, for some 25 plus years.
She is now stationed in Peru.
We are extremely proud of this woman. The investment Rotary made in her has changed the lives of tens of thousands, if not millions, over the years worldwide.
She is another example how one person can help change the world for the better.
Sarah was home over Christmas. Attached is a photo of her and her family.
Read her story HERE and (read more…) to see her “update”.PHOTO: Sarah Laughton (R) and her family
My family and I have been in Peru for two and a half years; I have another year and a half to go in this posting.
Living here has been a wonderful experience for the family. My girls (aged 13 and 15) are now Spanish speakers! I am reminded of my own youth exchange experience in Colombia, when I was not much older than my elder daughter is now.
My work in Peru involves supporting the government to improve nutrition and access to food for the most vulnerable people. Some of the specific areas we are supporting are: rice fortification (cost-effective for addressing anemia and other micro-nutrient deficiencies); use of community health agents to help families reduce anemia in young children; and supporting smallholder farmers to sell their produce to the national school feeding programme, improving the quality of food kids eat at school, and income for family farms. We also support preparedness and response to disasters such as floods, wildfires, and earthquakes. One exciting area we are supporting is the recovery and redistribution of surplus fresh foods from markets to populations who cannot regularly afford them, such as community kitchens. The work is varied and rewarding.
Living in Peru has also provided the opportunity to spend time with my Colombian host family, from my Rotary exchange in 1988-89! Last year I took my husband and daughters for a wonderful, week-long visit. We will be going again this year. My daughters embraced the idea of having three Colombian 'aunts', plus a new grandmother, and are now in regular touch with their Colombian cousins.
I don't know where we will go next. That's a question for later this year. For now, I am enjoying being here, and work is too busy to think about much else. My life has been so full of gifts on all fronts.