Rotary’s global network enables our members to connect with other business, professional, and community leaders anywhere in the world. Being a Rotarian you can experience a new culture and use your professional skills for a good cause.
We are part of an international organisation and examples of our humanitarian assistance to many countries include:
• Provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene in a number of countries including India
• Building toilets and wash basins in Sri Lanka and Nepal
• Support education in secondary schools in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Tanzania
• Fighting disease, eradicating Polio by assisting medical visits by Australian medical teams
• Disaster relief as disasters occur, and provision of Shelterboxes.
Though support of the Rotary Foundation and efforts of the Rotary Club of Chatswood Roseville we have been able to make an impact in the following international causes and communities:
End Polio Now
When we commit to a cause, like eradicating polio, we don’t stop until it’s finished. Since 1979, we’ve raised millions of dollars, immunized billions of children, and put polio eradication on the agenda of governments around the world. Today, as a member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we are “this close” to reaching our goal. Three countries remain polio endemic, but we won’t stop until the disease is gone.
Each year we hold a fund raising theater night in support of End Polio Now.
Shelterbox
The Club has been a long term supporter of Shelterbox, who since 2000 have provided emergency shelter and disaster relief around the world. In that time, we’ve supported people to get back on their feet after hurricanes, earthquakes, conflicts, droughts, cyclones and more. Refer to the recognition letter below
We are the number one club in the Rotary Pacific Zone, having been awarded the unique ‘Blue Diamond Award’ for donating over 130 Shelter Boxes since 2000. Shelter Boxes provided emergency accommodation and basic life needs for people who lost their homes due to earthquakes, floods and war.
The shelter box provides blankets, pillows and food and can be dispatched anywhere in the world. Some recent examples where Shelterbox has helped include floods in Qld and NSW and earthquakes in Turkey.
Empowering women to sew in Turkey so they gain an income
We worked with a local Rotary club in Turkey to provide the facilities and equipment to train women how to sew. This enabled them to get an employable skill so they can become self sufficient. A local organisation employed the women once they were trained through the Rotary led program. They recently provided clothing for many people affected by the earthquake in Turkey.
The fourth ‘Golden Needle’ centre in Izmir, Turkey to assist women to be independent is established and running.
Providing toilets for a village in Sri Lanka
With a budget of just over US$100,000, this project funded construction of 100 new toilets and 3 new shower blocks for a village in Sri Lanka.
The Troupe Tea Plantation housed 130 families who were sharing 21 Toilets. The Rotary project built 109 new toilets so all families had access to their own toilet, as well as 3 shower blocks.
Improve dental outcomes of Timor L’Este villagers
Since 2004, in conjunction with Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS), our club has supported this program in which teams of volunteer Dentists provide dental care to the people of Timor L’Este. The club had also sponsored the training of a young dentist.
Birthing kits
Birthing kits provide basic sterile equipment and supplies to assist in the safe birthing process in third world countries. We purchase the equipment and put the birthing kits together and then arrange for transport overseas. Our last birthing kits went to Malawi and Nigeria.