Gilmer Encourages Rotary’s International Work

Sheldon Gilmer (above right) receives a certificate of appreciation from Kemptville Rotary President Anna Van Adrichem-Rochon at the conclusion of a talk on his international work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on October 2, 2012.  A donation was also made on his behalf to the Club’s safe cooking stove project in El Salvador.  Gilmer has been travelling to Congo for 26 years, working on a variety of medical, community health and development projects.  In recent years he has made four trips of three weeks each to Congo and shorter trips to Ukraine, taking time out from his agricultural equipment manufacturing business, located near Heckston.  Gilmer works with a faith-based international relief and development organization called World Hope Canada, which will be moving to Kemptville on November 1.  The national headquarters of the agency will be located in the Kollaard Building, at 210 Prescott Street.  Gilmer, who emphasized the importance of working in partnership, concluded his talk by encouraging Rotary to keep up its commitment to international development work with local partners in developing countries.