We are proud to share that the Zambia Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Project—sponsored internationally by Phoenix Rotary 100 with the Mbala Rotary Club in Zambia—was completed earlier this year. This was the largest Rotary WASH project in the world for Rotary year 2024–2025, with a total value of $1.2 million. Major support came from District 5495 DDF funds, with matching partnerships from World Vision and Golf Fore Africa.

Transforming Lives with Clean Water

Through strong collaboration with our partners and the Government of Zambia, the project reached over 10,000 people with clean, reliable water.

• 14 piped-water systems and 19 boreholes now serve families and schools.
• Families are growing gardens, improving nutrition, and earning new income.
• 15 schools with more than 8,000 students now have access to clean water—reducing illness and boosting attendance.

Health and Hygiene Improvements

• Four rural health centers now have running water and modern maternity facilities, leading to better hygiene, more clinic births, and improved care.
• 1,999 new sanitation facilities were built, benefiting over 12,000 people.
• WASH Clubs in schools are teaching nearly 200 students to promote healthy hygiene practices.

Sustainability for Generations

• 34 local water committees have been trained to maintain systems and collect user fees.
• Several systems are already insured to ensure long-term operation and community ownership.

This landmark project demonstrates the power of Rotary partnerships — clubs, districts, and global allies working together to bring clean water, better health, and brighter futures to thousands in Mbala, Zambia.

Together, we’ve changed lives for generations to come!

By John Gutekunst 
Courtesy Parker Pioneer 
Pioneer photo/John Gutekunst

Natalia Dasho, a native of Ukraine, is a foreign exchange student at Parker High this year. She’s in the junior class. Her father attended Parker High during the 1993-94 school year.

Parker High School is hosting an exchange student from Ukraine for the 2025-26 school year. What makes this even more interesting is her father was also an exchange student in Parker 32 years ago.

Natalia Dasho, 16, is a junior at Parker High through the Rotary International Youth Exchange Program. It’s handled locally through the Parker Rotary Club, with Ashley Bonds as its coordinator.

Dasho is from Lviv, Ukraine, which is located about 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) from the border with Poland. With a population estimated at 720,000, it’s the largest city in western Ukraine and the fifth largest in the country

Dasho’s father, Taras, was an exchange student in Parker during the 1993-94 school year. She and Bonds said it was largely through her father and friends in Ukraine that she became an exchange student in Parker. Since she came to the States, she has not only visited Parker but also the Grand Canyon, Sedona and Big Bear in California.

“Parker is nice, but it’s SO hot!” Dasho said. “It looks like some place people would go on vacation.”

In addition to her classes, Dasho has become involved in school activities. She’s on the Parker Broncs Spiritline cheerleading team, and is a member of the Interact Club. She also expressed an interest in the S Club, an organization of teens affiliated with Soroptimist International of Parker.

Her current host family is led by Don and Mariane Poole. Their family includes another Parker High student, their son, Jax Poole, who plays on the Broncs’ football team.

Dasho said she has found ways to get exercise. The Pooles have a home gym, and she works out there. She also goes with Mariane every day when she walks her dog.

Dasho said she’s made a lot of friends, including the entire cheerleading team.

“They’ve all been very nice to me,” she said of the people in Parker. “People are interested in me.”

In a letter made available to the Pioneer, Taras Dasho said he was glad to have his daughter experience some of what he did in Parker. He said had a wonderful time in Parker, and said two of the teachers he remembered best were Ron Curnutt and Ruben Castillo. He also passed a scuba diving course and received a diving certificate from Hal Collett.

Taras has returned to Parker twice since then, in 2015 and 2017. That last visit saw him fulfill a long-time dream of riding Arizona on a Harley-Davison motorcycle.

“I am so happy to see my Natalia has a chance to see with her eyes the places that I love and meet the people that are so far but so important for me and make so many new friends,” Taras said in his letter.

Almost inevitably, the conversation with Natalia Dasho turned to the war between Russia and Ukraine. For centuries, Ukraine was seen as part of Russia, under both the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. Three top Soviet leaders, Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev and Konstantin Chernenko, were Ukrainians. During the break-up of the Soviet Union, Ukrainians voted for independence in December 1991.

Some sources say the current conflict began in February 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea. A full-blown Russian invasion began on Feb. 24, 2022. Both sides have been secretive about the number of casualties, but some sources quoted on Google place the number at 700,000 to 1 million casualties, which include over 200,000 killed.

Dasho said the situation is bad in western Ukraine, where she lives, but it could be a lot worse. She said it’s been much more difficult for central Ukraine, which has borne the brunt of the Russian attacks.

“It’s been like Hell,” she said.

Dasho said Russian President Vladimir Putin is not the only Russian responsible for the war.

“I know the people of Ukraine will never give up,” she said. “We have fought Russia, we fight Russia and we will fight them again. We want to be independent.”

Bonds said the Parker Rotary Club is seeking families interested in hosting a foreign exchange student. 

“Our Rotary Youth Exchange program fosters global peace through intercultural understanding, benefiting the student and host family,” she said.