Local Rotarian Travels to Mexican Prison, Jul 08

Doug Waymark, long time Rotary Club of Semiahmoo member and recent Paul Harris Fellow recipient, went to Mexico in the summer of 2008 on his first mission trip with his church.

He and others helped donate thread to Mexican prisoners, who make and sell hammocks to support their families. Semiahmoo Rotary paid for the $500 of thread used in the construction of the hammocks, which was purchased in Mexico.

With the donated thread, the prisoners won't have to take from their profit to buy more material.

The  hammocks sell for about $30 - $60 US depending on the size. The guarantee with the prisoner-made products is that they are produced locally and contribute to a good cause.

Chiapas is one of the poorest states in Mexico, and a large portion of the population is native. Men tend to be the sole providers for their family, even while in prison. "The men have more opportunity to make money than the women do."

Waymark came back to Canada with a greater appreciation for the luxuries most Westerners take for granted. "Any kind of experience when you go to a Third World country, you get a better appreciation for what you do have."

While even the more fortunate Chiapas residents have little in the way of amenities, they have high spirits. "Regardless of people's surroundings, their level of joy and happiness is still there," Waymark said. "It's the people who are there that really inspire you. Their joy is sometimes tenfold of what we have, because we're always worried about what we don't have."

Semiahmoo Rotary is involved with several International projects throughout the world and have helped countless people make their lives richer.