ROTARY WORLDWIDE
ROTARY THE WORLD OVER
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders who dedicate their time and talent to tackle the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels.
The objectives of Rotary are the same throughout the world. They include the promotion of community service, the maintenance of high standards in business and professional practices, the advancement of international understanding, and the development of fellowship.
WORLD-WIDE, YET LOCAL
Each club is autonomous in its activities and has the freedom to select the local, national, or international projects it wishes to support. Members attend the weekly meetings of their own club but are also made very welcome as visitors at other clubs.
You'll make firm friends as well as worthwhile business contacts; you'll learn valuable new skills and grow as a person; and you'll be sure of a warm welcome from other Rotarians around the world when you're on your travels.
As a Rotarian, there's a vast array of things you can get involved in, from organising events and competitions, supporting local charities and developing young people, to assisting with disaster relief and fighting diseases and poverty worldwide.
THE WORLD'S BIGGEST CHARITY
The Rotary Foundation is supported solely by contributions from the public, Rotary members and friends of the Foundation.
Those contributions, gifts and donations are transformed into service projects that change the lives of thousands of people across the world.
With 91% of funds spent on the programmes and projects it delivers, The Rotary Foundation, based at the Rotary Headquarters in Illinois, USA, is globally recognised for its financial efficiency, accountability and transparency.
Each year, The Rotary Foundation gives $70 million worth of grants to Rotary clubs throughout the world for humanitarian projects, vocational training and scholarships in Rotary’s cause areas.
Ranging from small-scale, short term activities to large, international projects, Rotary grants strengthen global partnerships and provide sustainable and measurable benefits to communities.
Grants from The Rotary Foundation support over 1,000 projects every year.
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RIDDING THE WORLD OF POLIO
Rotary spearheaded the campaign at a time when there were over 1,000 polio cases a day in 125 countries, paralysing and even killing children.
Today, the number of cases is down by 99.9%.
Over the last 30 years, Rotary has donated US$2 billion to the eradication effort and has protected over 2.5 billion children from the disease through vaccination programmes.
Inspired in part by Rotary’s volunteer commitment and fundraising success, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was launched in 1988.
This remarkable partnership which includes Rotary, World Health Organization, UNICEF, the US Center for Disease Control & Prevention and, more recently, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Despite there only being a handful of cases left in the world, continued campaigning, health worker training and vaccination programmes are essential to stop the disease returning and ensuring the world is certified polio-free.
Rotary members continue to be key players in many aspects of the polio programme including on the ground in a number of countries as well as fundraising and advocacy.
Failure to eradicate polio could result in as many as 200,000 new cases worldwide every year within a decade.
Rotary members in Great Britain and Ireland have been huge supporters of End Polio Now and you can be part of making history.
