International

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders and problem solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision.  For more than 110 years Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy and intelligence to take action on sustainable project: from literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

The need for safe water in drylands, the answer is Sand Dams.

Over 40% of the earth’s surface consists of drylands (hyper-arid, arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas with concentrated periods of seasonal rainfall). These drylands which cover large areas of Africa and Asia are home to around 2.3 billion people, mostly living in rural poverty trying to eke out a living in a tough climate.

Working with local partners, Watford Rotary supports rural communities to build sand dams - the most cost-effective method of catching and storing rainwater in drylands. Sand dams provide safe water for life and the opportunity to grow enough food to eat, store and sell. It is our vision that millions of the world’s poorest people will transform their own lives with sand dams.

What we do

Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world's most persistent issues. Our 35,000+ clubs work together to:

•Promote peace

•Fight disease

•Provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene

•Save mothers and children

•Support education

•Grow local economies

2017/18 saw Watford Rotary support the International Humanitarian charity Save A Child's Heart (SACH). Almost 1 in 100 children are born with heart disease, in developed countries like our own it's not too much of a problem, we have the facilities and surgeons to tackle the problem, however in developing countries, they have neither. Therefore a child born with heart disease in a developing country, left untreated, will live a short, painful and debilitating life, rarely making it past their teens. SACH tackles this problem by carrying our surgeries, training surgeons and clinicians and sending medical missions to these countries.

Read more about SACH at saveachildsheart.com.