International and Foundation

Rotary International and Foundation Committee

Our Club’s International & Foundation Committee identifies projects from around the world with a clear need, which we can meet effectively by raising funds from annual concerts and other activities.  Partnering local Rotary Clubs where possible, our projects have ranged from funding a water tank at an Ethiopian Health Centre to supporting the BEKA charity in Addis Ababa providing education and care for street children as well as looms enabling their foster mothers make a living; from assisting Search & Rescue Groups with lifesaving equipment in the Philippines to supporting the provision of nutritious school lunches in Zambia; from ensuring mosquito nets for  pupils and staff in a Kenyan school to providing extra funds to build school classrooms at Goboti Village in South Africa.

Currently we have two international projects: joining a local church initiative to help finance uniforms and educational materials for a school in the Zambian Copperbelt and contributing to a dedicated Kids Operating Room (KidsOR) paediatric operating theatre in Africa or South America.

The Rotary International charity, Foundation, funded by individual club subscriptions, is one of the largest charities in the world.  It covers Education, Ambassadorial Scholarships, Group Study Exchanges, Peace & Justice Conflict Resolution Courses and Matching Grants for Club and District Projects, which have benefited a number of our own projects

A major force in humanitarian aid, ShelterBox, was started by Rotary and provides an immediate response to earthquakes, tsunamis, displaced families…. with its emergency shelters complete with basic survival equipment. At a cost of £600 the Club finances at least one every year.

Polio Plus  In 1988 Rotary was the founder member, now along with UNICEF, WHO and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, of the Global Polio Eradication Project. Great progress has been made, particularly with the Gates Foundation doubling donations.  Africa is now polio free and very small numbers with the polio virus are reported in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Contributing to the International & Foundation Committee has widened our eyes and provided an opportunity of Service Above Self.