You Are All Doing Good Through The Rotary Foundation
Through the Rotary Foundation, funds provided by Clubs and Rotary members are contributing to Rotary-led service projects in the South Pacific Islands, in some of the least developed countries in the world, and also in our New Zealand communities.
In our own District, Wanganui North Rotary is working on a global grant project to improve orthopaedic surgery in Tonga. You will hear more about this project as plans develop. Our District and District 9920, which includes Tonga, have committed funds to this project.
This year we are also supporting Whangārei South Rotary with a three-day annual health programme for several million people in Bangladesh, which will test for breast and cervical cancer, for TB and hepatitis, give measles injections and provide hygiene products.
COVID-19 has delayed a project in Bhutan to which we have committed funds. Te Awamutu Rotary’s project will provide training in Bhutan to repair bodies and rebuild lives in this least developed country.
This year we continue to support the centennial Rotary Give Every Child a Future immunisation project. Through this project 100,000 of the most disadvantaged children across the Pacific will be immunised over the next three to four years against rotavirus, pneumococcal disease and cervical cancer across nine South Pacific Island countries, while local health systems will be strengthened.
Last year was the first year of the programme and, though your past contributions to the Foundation, we were able to give funds to all 9 countries – the Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue, Tokelau, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. This year, we have committed funds again, but not as much as last year due to lower contributions by Clubs to the Foundation’s Annual Programs Fund three years ago. We need your support.
This year’s allocation of over NZ$38,000 in District grants allowed Clubs in our District to address needs here in our District and overseas. We hope that Clubs who received District grants will share details and photos of their projects in District Bulletins. Some examples of the District grant projects are: equipment for the Wellington Regional Children’s Hospital; help establishing a satellite Citizens Advice Bureau in Cannons Creek, Porirua; supporting a new Kiwis Club in Palmerston North; and improving facilities for Riding for the Disabled in New Plymouth.
And finally, Clubs in our District continue to fight the battle against polio by raising funds, including through the Ride the Train event, the World’s Greatest Meal and movie evenings. This is Rotary’s largest project and we thank you for your continued support.
Martin Garcia
District 9940 Foundation Chair