| The International Service Update provides news about World Community Service, Rotary Volunteers, and Rotary Community Corps, as well as disaster relief and recovery. Visit the Service and Fellowship pages on the Rotary International Web site, www.rotary.org, for more information. |
| Connections for service |
Rotarians are encouraged to reach out to one another, both locally and internationally, to establish relationships and long-term partnerships, which can lead to effective and sustainable service projects. But how do you begin to make those connections?
There are several ways to connect with fellow Rotarians. The long-standing Rotary Friendship Exchange program is a great way to meet club members in other countries, learn about their cultures, and develop interclub relationships. Another option is Rotary Project Safaris, launched this year by RI President Ray Klinginsmith with support from the Reach Out to Africa Committee. These safaris, which are not limited to Africa, offer Rotarians a chance to visit and evaluate projects in countries other than their own and can inspire long-term support and collaboration. You might also consider reaching out to Rotaract or Interact clubs, or using ProjectLINK, Rotary’s searchable database, where finding Rotary club and district partners is just a few clicks away.
Identifying a partner that communicates well and is committed to the project is key. Start small, and after completing a project successfully, consider teaming up on a larger, more complex effort. By reaching out and connecting with fellow Rotarians, you’ll expand the scope of possibilities, and a rewarding experience will follow. |
| World Community Service and Rotary Volunteers programs update |
The RI Board agreed at its November meeting to phase out the World Community Service and Rotary Volunteers programs, effective 30 June 2011. This decision was made in light of the priorities of the revised RI Strategic Plan and the need for an overall shift in how Rotary International administers its programs, moving to a “resource and support” model. The goal of the new model is to expand resources in a way that helps clubs connect and partner with greater ease, leading to an increase in the number and scope of significant international service projects.
RI staff will be developing and enhancing resources to foster connections for international service projects, fellowship visits, and international volunteer opportunities. This will include augmenting the current Rotary Friendship Exchange program.
Developments will be shared on the RI website and with Rotarians appointed to serve in 2011-12 district leadership positions. |
| Project technology: Mosquito nets |
If your club is interested in undertaking a health-related project, consider learning more about mosquito nets. Mosquito nets provide a safe, affordable, and effective form of disease prevention. They are designed to protect individuals from disease-carrying mosquitoes by creating a barrier that these insects cannot permeate. There are several types of mosquito nets. Insecticide-treated nets, for example, not only protect the individuals who are covered but also kill mosquitoes in the process, benefiting the community at large. While mosquito nets can be used in many situations, they are generally used at night, as mosquitoes tend to be more prevalent at dawn and dusk. The duration of use for these nets varies. Some types must be treated with insecticide frequently to maintain their effectiveness; others last four to five years without needing to be retreated. Although nets can sell for as little as US$10, many people at risk for malaria and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes cannot afford these simple preventive measures. Disease prevention campaigns such as Nothing But Nets, launched by the United Nations Foundation in 2006, have raised awareness and donated millions of mosquito nets to protect at-risk communities around the world.
Above: A volunteer dipping mosquito nets into insecticide treatment in Uganda's Mpigi District.
Photo by Alyce Henson. © Rotary International. |
| Uniendo América Project Fair |
| The Rotary Club of David, Chiriquí, Panama, and District 4240 (Belize; Guatemala; Honduras) are hosting the 18th annual Uniendo América Project Fair, 27-29 January. The event will enable Rotarians and clubs from a variety of countries to find partners to address Central America’s needs through humanitarian projects. Visiting Rotarians will also be able to enjoy excursions and tours highlighting the beautiful beaches, mountains, rain forests, and islands of the province of Chiriquí. Watch the latest Interactive video on this year’s fair, which took place in Antigua, Guatemala. Learn more about project fairs and how to prepare for attending on the RI website |
| Start with Water |
| The Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG) has announced the launch of Start with Water: A Global Leadership Initiative for Safe Water. The new initiative provides resources including map-based listings of projects, a tool to help clubs connect, technical support, such as an Ask an Expert forum; and “endorsed” projects, which are developed by regional teams and based on rigorous planning to improve sustainability. Read more. |
| Rotarian malaria initiatives |
Rotarians worldwide are involved in efforts to control and fight malaria. Rotarians Eliminating Malaria: A Rotarian Action Group is a network of Rotarians, spouses of Rotarians, and Rotaractors who share a common interest in the disease. Learn how to get involved in projects and find out whether a speaker is available to visit your club on the group’s website. |
| Disaster relief: Western Africa, Hungary, Indonesia, Philippines |
Rotarians have provided relief to victims of numerous recent disasters. Since late September, torrential rains have devastated western Africa, killing at least 377 people and affecting more than 1.5 million. The Rotary Foundation is accepting contributions to help fund Rotary projects that will support long-term disaster recovery in the affected areas. Rotarians, clubs, and districts can contribute both cash and District Designated Fund allocations to the Rotary Western Africa Flooding Recovery Fund.
In October, a dam broke in Kolontár, Hungary, covering the town in toxic red sludge and leaving nine dead and 150 injured. Soon after, the Philippines was hit by Typhoon Megi, leaving 19 dead and thousands homeless. Indonesia also faced disaster when a 7.7-magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami near the Mentawai Islands off the coast of Sumatra; 10-foot waves crashed into the islands, killing over 300 people. One day later, on the island of Java, Mount Merapi erupted, killing over 30 people and displacing 40,000.
Updates regarding these disasters can be found at www.rotary.org. Please send any questions or concerns to relief@rotary.org. |
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| Issue Profile |
Disease Prevention
As your club explores partnerships, consider getting involved in a disease prevention project that identifies ways to decrease the spread of major disease. Recent outbreaks of dengue fever, a potentially deadly yet preventable disease, have put 2.5 billion people — almost two-fifths of the world’s population — at risk of infection. The disease is spread by mosquitoes and is found largely in tropical and subtropical climates. In the past 10 years, the number of cases of dengue fever in the Western Pacific alone has more than doubled, and 500,000 people a year are hospitalized as a result of this disease. While the exact causes of the outbreaks are uncertain, the World Health Organization is urging immediate action, such as improved sanitation measures and the elimination of mosquito breeding sites, to curb the disease’s spread.
This epidemic is cause for concern as we approach the 2015 deadline for achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals. By that year, the United Nations intends to have stopped the spread of malaria and other major diseases and to have decreased their global prevalence. Some progress has been made toward this goal through education and prevention initiatives. In Vietnam, the United Nations Population Fund supports a national reproductive health and HIV-prevention curriculum for secondary school students sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Training. The United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign has distributed 2.8 million insecticide-treated bed nets in Mali, benefiting 95 percent of all the country’s children under five. Since 1997, the Revised National Tuberculosis Programme has treated more than 11 million patients in India and has saved over two million lives. However, as the recent dengue fever outbreaks show, more work is necessary to stop major diseases.
Connect with disease-prevention projects and volunteers
Rotary clubs in India, Mali, the Philippines, and Uganda are implementing projects and seeking international partners to promote disease prevention in their countries. Learn more about these projects and how you can help on ProjectLINK. Read about a Rotary Foundation Global Grant project to reduce the incidence of dengue fever in Indonesia.
Successfully completed projects related to disease prevention are also featured on ProjectLINK. These efforts may inspire clubs looking for project ideas and provide guidance on best practices. Learn more by searching for a model project on ProjectLINK. To narrow your search, include keywords such as malaria, dengue fever, and disease prevention.
If your club is seeking international volunteers for its disease prevention projects, use the Rotary Volunteers Database. Volunteers currently listed have expertise in AIDS education, disaster relief, and health education. |
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