International and Foundation

 

Committee chairman    David Blundell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rotary International, the world’s first service club organisation, is more than 100 years old. It now has nearly 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries. Its members form a global network of business and professional leaders who volunteer their time to serve their communities and the world.

 

Rotary Clubs like ours in Royston are the cornerstone of Rotary International. Through the funds we raise in the Royston area we have been able to provide vital assistance to distressed or disadvantaged people in many parts of the world.

 

 

Rotary has six areas of focus which are:

  • Promoting peace

  • Fighting disease

  • Providing clean water

  • Saving mothers and children

  • Supporting education

  • Growing local economies

This is realised by us by helping in the following ways, as funds allow.

Rotary Foundation (One of the biggest charities in the world) : The focus of our Foundation activities will be End Polio Now (Thanks for Life) a long term programme which is so close to eradicating polio throughout the world but still needs funds to complete the task.  For every £1 we can raise the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will donate a further £2.  (The Prime Minister of Australia pledged $100million under this scheme at the Rotary International Conference in Sydney).

Disaster Fund : At the start of each year we earmark £500 to enable us to make immediate response to a National or International disaster such as the Philippines. Further funds can be raised at the time, should it be necessary,

Siyathandwa Community Outreach Centres : The Siyathandwa Community Outreach Centres are based in Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. This is a local charity, run by members of the community, with a vision to help those orphans affected by the AIDS pandemic to continue with as normal a life a possible, particularly through nurture and education. David Blundell, a member of our Club, and his wife Diane both have first hand experience of working in the Charity’s Drop in Centres providing food for hungry children.

Hope and Homes for Children : We have supported Hope and Homes for Children for many years, several of us attend their Annual Carol Concert and it was the Club President's charity a few years ago. Hope and Homes for Children is an international charity working to ensure that all children have the chance to grow up in the love of a family. Their vision is a world in which children no longer suffer institutional care, in other words, life in an orphanage.

Khandel Light : This is a charity set up by Peter Gough, a local GP,   It works to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged families in Khandel and its surrounding villages situated in the desert State of Rajasthan, India

Lend With Care : Lend With Care is an organisation providing micro-financing to entrepreneurs in underdeveloped countries. We have invested in entrepreneurs via Lend With Care for the last couple of years and will continue to do so during this year.

TWAM (Tools with a Mission) : TWAM essentially collects unwanted tools and ships them to countries where they are needed such as Uganda, Tanzania, Romania and the Philippines.

Charity Curry Night at the Ashiana Spice : We have an annual Charity Curry Night at the Ashiana Spice Restaurant in Royston, to raise money to supply clean water in disaster areas through the use of LifeStraws or similar equipment.

 

 

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