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The Chisago Lakes Rotary Club through a District 5960 matching grant, has made it possible for a South African school to purchase computers, projectors, a video camera, software for the computers and all the required cables and screen pulldowns. The Chris Nissen Primary School in Knysna, South Africa.   

The Chisago Lakes Rotary Club requested financial support for the project from seven neighboring Rotary Clubs plus a contribution from the Knysna South Africa Rotary Club to effectuate this grant. Contributing neighboring Rotary clubs included North Branch, New Brighton/Mounds View, North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale, Chain of Lakes (Lino Lakes), Vadnais Heights, St. Croix Falls/Taylors Falls, and Stillwater/Sunrise.  

In order to reduce the costs of the project and support the local economy, funds were wired to the Knysna Club to purchase the equipment.  Once received, the Knysna Club worked with the government officials (principal and staff) at the Chris Nissen School to make the purchases needed and to coordinate installation of the equipment in the school.

Chris Nissen has a staff of 18 educators and 921 learners from Grade R (reception-5 years) to Grade 7 (12-13 years).  The school is located in an economically depressed area of South Africa and was built for a total school population of 500 students.  The computers and projectors will allow a greater number of students to learn at the same time as text books, class space, and teachers are insufficient.   

The Knysna Rotary Club was instrumental in making this project succeed in cooperation with the government and school officials from the Chris Nissen School.  While all of the Chisago Lakes Club was involved in the project the team leaders were Kristine Nelson Fuge, Judy Chartrand, and Joanne Sackreiter.

“Most of the Chisago Lakes club funds are directed to local projects but this grant helped to fulfill our commitment to Rotary International and our motto of “Service Above Self,” said Sackreiter.  The next fundraising event is the Chisago Lakes Golf Tournament June 9 with the proceeds benefiting Baby Blanket.  For more information about this project or  golf tournament please see  the website at www.chisagolakesrotary.org.

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