1. How much money / effort for International Causes?

Clubs may consider debating the proportion of funds for International Vs Local/National causes. For example, it could be 50:50 over the years.

Remember to take advantage of Rotary Foundation Matching Grants to enhance the value of Club's contribution.

2. Which projects?

Clubs have a great deal of choice in projects ... rather bewildering if you are starting from scratch. It is a question of balance of priorities. There are suggestions of themes from RI, RIBI, RIBI Project Library, projects from other clubs in the District, Club President or Club International chairman's favourite etc in addition to clubs own on-going interests in particular projects.

At the RI (Rotary International) level, President DK Lee's thrust for 2008-09 is concerned with Polio Plus, and the same issues as last year - Literacy; Water Management; Health and Hunger; Family of Rotary. He asks Rotarians everywhere to focus on the most precious resource of every community: our children. 

At the RIBI (National) level ....The RIBI President for 2008-09, Ian Thomson, would like us to support a project called 'School 4 All in Africa'. Over 90% of disabled children in Africa do not go to school. RIBI's joint commitment with Leonard Cheshire Disability can help change this.  The target is to help 1,000 disabled children in Uganda to get to local mainstream schools. Project details were distributed at the Dist. Assembly for each Club.

 Club International Project Sheet 31.00 Kb

Click here for an RIBI press release.

At the DG level, there are no specific priorities. 

Across the District,  there are Clubs continuing to seek contribution to their novel initiatives - such as 'Make Blindness History' (Stevenage Club) or Playpump (Hatfield).

RIBI Project library: Details are listed below - with easy access to Project sheets, websites, e-mail addresses and District Committee member for contacts in just one table.

*** Committee members, as below

Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) has selected Leonard Cheshire Disability as its partner charity from 1 July 2008 until 1 July 2009.

Over the course of the year RIBI members will seek to raise £500,000 from fundraising and matching grants from their own charity, The Rotary Foundation, for an inclusive education School 4 All in Africa programme in the Mukono and Pallisa districts of Uganda.

The Inclusive Education (IE) programme will target 1,000 disabled children to provide them with access to primary education.

Twenty schools will be adapted to make them physically accessible and 80 teachers will be trained in inclusive education and how to support all children from the community in the class.

Ian Thomson, President of RIBI, said: "Education is the right of all children and this work is vital as the United Nations estimates that over 90% of disabled children in Africa do not go to school. RIBI chose to work in partnership with Leonard Cheshire Disability on the School 4 All in Africa programme as there is a clear need.