International Service

1.    General:

The Foundation and International Service areas have been combined into a single committee. This offers synergies in terms of ideas, resources and communication and also reduces the risks of duplication.

The committee members meet to discuss commitments and possible project opportunities for the coming Rotary year. New projects are taken off as others are completed and given strategic agreement, the Club is asked to approve overall funding levels. To facilitate development of the approved programme the committee meets monthly and seeks open discussion at Fellowship evenings.

2.     Foundation:

The Club has a reserve fund intended to resource humanitarian projects that qualify for Foundation Matching Grants. The committee addresses opportunities to apply these funds, including through applications for District Simplified Grants if suitable opportunities arise within the programme areas developed in the International Service field or the local Community Service area.

Existing Foundation commitments are the continued Polio Plus Campaign and the annual contribution to the Foundation Annual Programme Fund, where the expectation is that there will be a $100.0 per member contribution. The Club has regularly contributed to the Polio Plus programme.

The Club will also participate in any further RI/Rotary GB&I led fund raising for this programme. In respect of the annual contribution, it is proposed that this be held at $78 per head at current rates; core fund raising for this will be the Monthly Draw and the Foundation Box, the balance to be met from the Charitable Fund. Presentations are arranged for Foundation Scholars and Foundation related speakers are welcomed. 

3. International:

The club sent £1000 to Islamic Relief in the immediate wake of the explosion in Beirut in 2020 and have an on ongoing interest in a school in Cambodia.

Experiences while on holiday in Cambodia has spurred a local retired consultant to mobilise the Rotary Club of West Fife into providing life changing support for a school in Kampong Tralach.

In the 1970’s the population of Cambodia was reduced by one third over a three year period by the utter brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime.  Men, women and children were tortured to death with babies killed (battered against trees) in front of their mothers.

Despite this, Cambodia today is a poor, but vibrant country.  Dr.Alex Evan Wong took a river trip whilst on holiday in the country and in doing so visited a struggling school in a remote area. The school’s aim was to teach English to its students in the hope of them securing a job in the tourist or related industries. The school relied on donations from tourists and sponsorship.

Alex returned to West Fife and briefed the Rotary Club of which he is a Past President, with what he had seen and his thoughts about how they could help. With the aid of a Rotary District grant the West Fife Club was able to secure a sum of $10,000 to donate to the school with the specific aim of putting in place broadband and supporting technology. 

Although major technical problems were encountered, the project transformed English teaching with engaging teaching graphics for young kids, and Word, and Excel for older students.  Career jobs rarely achieved in the past, were  secured by senior students and the word spread.  Students from twelve adjacent villages poured into the small river school.  Over the last three years the Rotary Club of West Fife continued support by providing toilets and the development of a second school.

In August 2020 members of the club’s International committee took part in a Zoom meeting with the head teacher and members of staff from the school in Cambodia.  They reported that the Covid pandemic had caused a halt in all income from river cruises and the supportive Norwegian tour company.  Future prospects for river tourism is uncertain.

So the Rotary Club of West Fife has stepped in with a follow up donation of £1500 support through this difficult period.  It will be difficult for them to survive as a school as no one is being paid, and Government support is non existent. The Rotary Club’s International Convenor, Donald MacKay said:-

“We hope, that with the support we have given them, reducing their outgoings and finding ways of raising income, they can scrape along until brighter days appear on the horizon.”

As specific projects are developed they are brought back to the Members and Council for final approval.