The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs.The Foundation's Humanitarian Programs fund international Rotary club and district projects to improve the quality of life, providing health care, clean water, food, education, and other essential needs primarily in the developing world.
One of the major Humanitarian Programs is PolioPlus, which seeks to eradicate the polio virus worldwide. Through its Educational Programs, the Foundation provides funding for some 1,200 students to study abroad each year. Grants are also awarded to university teachers to teach in developing countries and for exchanges of business and professional people. Former participants in the Foundation's programs have the opportunity to continue their affiliation with Rotary as Foundation Alumni.
The Rotary Foundation is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. Included in this section is information pertaining to the history of The Rotary Foundation, its financial support, its Alumni programs, training and resources, and the SHARE system aims
We are a dual gender organisation worldwide (1.2million members) and in the “Canterbury area” we have 7 clubs. Every Rotarian/club tries to make a difference, both locally, nationally and internationally for many different charities such a as Mercy Ships, ShelterBox etc. but probably the least known - is what Rotary has done for the eradication of Polio.
The purple crocus is a symbol of Rotary's worldwide campaign to eradicate polio, with its colour representing the purple dye used to mark the finger of a child who has been immunised.
Today polio, a really dreadful disease has been eradicated from Europe for many years now, but it is not totally eradicated in the world – which means it could come back! Rotary has raised over 1.8 billion, yes billion dollars and provided many, many volunteers each year to help with immunisation mainly of children in some third world countries.
When Rotary started this campaign in 1988 there were 350000 recorded cases that year and this has been reduced by 99.9% to around 20/30 cases a year. Fortunately, many people today know nothing about polio, but just ask your parents or Google it. Through immunisation polio can be stopped, although once caught there is no cure.
So are we proud of what Rotary has achieved through a lot of hard work by its members worldwide both directly in helping to immunise 2.5 billion children, yes we are! And ofcourse the many other charities we shall continue to help in the future – but with all that we have a fun time!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4gUkTSpHGE
For more information about Rotary Foundation click here
