The Rotary Foundation
Central to Rotary activities around the world is THE ROTARY FOUNDATION which is one of the world’s largest private foundations supporting humanitarian and educational programs. In 2009-10, the Foundation’s general annual donations totaled US$100.4 m and the Polio Plus Fund reached $151.6 m – with total overall contributions exceeding US$268 m. By investing for three years to earn income to support the organisation, one hundred percent of donations are returned to TRF programs to apply to beneficiaries.
The Rotary Foundation provides funding for Global Grants, and Districts Grants to match funds raised by the Club.
Polio Eradication is a major project driven by Rotary and supported by many governments and NGOs. In 1985, there were 350,000 cases in 125 countries. Today there are 4 endemic countries left with 1604 cases. Two are provisionally free and are waiting three years to be declared as such. We are within an inch of eradicating Polio from the world.
Outgoing Ambassadorial Scholars
The Club endorses selected university graduates for an outbound Ambassadorial Scholarship, assisting them to prepare their application to the District selection committee. If successful, the club then nominates a Counselor to mentor the successful candidate and act as a point of contact with the Host Club overseas. See RI website for details.
Hosting Inbound Ambassadorial scholars
Hosting incoming Ambassadorial Scholars involves nominating a Club member to act as Counsellor to the student, and a point of contact with the sending Club overseas. The Club offers assistance with settling in-not including accommodation, and encourages the Scholar to attend meetings on a regular basis.
Counselor for Incoming Peace Fellows
The role of the Counsellor is to assist the incoming student to settle into their University studies and accommodation in Brisbane. The Club currently supports four Peace Fellows who visit the Club regularly as guest speakers. The full contingent of Peace Fellows is featured at a special Peace Fellows evening sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kenmore in March/April each year.
Support for Outgoing Peace Fellow Applicants
As required, the club also assists outgoing Peace Fellow applicants with their applications to, and interviews with, the 9600 District Committee.
District Simplified Grants (DSG)
The club applies for DSGs to supplement the Club’s own contributions to our larger projects, particularly those in PNG and the Solomon Islands.
Donations in Kind (DIK)
The club assists, on a rostered basis, with the packing of containers of goods destined for communities in PNG. We also fund the transport of one container ($3500).
Bulolo-Wau and Madang Sister Clubs Arrangements
The former RCs of Toowong Brisbane West and Mt Coot-tha had previously ‘sistered’ with the RCs Bulolo-Wau and Madang respectively. Following the merger, the Club has maintained both arrangements. RC Bulolo-Wau, the only all national membership RC Club in PNG, is assisted by our club financially, paying its RI dues (about $600 p.a.). The RC Madang has also requested support from time to time. See below for details.
Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation Matching Grant
The club was successful in 2009 in obtaining a Grant of USD 11,000 (total project USD 33,319) to supply 34 deep tube wells in Bangladesh to replace arsenic contaminated water sources. The RC of Toowong contributed AUD 15,120 (USD 12,000). See below for further details:
Humanitarian Projects
Safe Water supply in Bangladesh (completed)
Bangladesh has turned to underground water supplies to overcome surface contamination following huge increases in its population. The Rotary Club of Toowong has been involved in water projects in Bangladesh over the last decade. Our last project involved the installation of 34 deep tube wells with hand pumps (see photo) at a total cost of US$33,320. Rotary clubs donated US$22,320 and the Rotary Foundation US$11,000.
Bed nets in Papua New Guinea (completed)
Bed nets reduce Malaria by over 90 percent. The Club has supplied nets to our sister Club of Bulolo-Wau.
Gravity Feed Village Water Supply Project in Papua New Guinea (completed)
Dudumia Community is located in the Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea near Goroka. The Community has a population of 900 adults and nearly an equal number of children. It hosts two churches, an elementary school, a village court, an HIV/Aids, a Resource Centre and a mini wet factory for coffee quality control.
The community is in dire need of a clean, safe and adequate water supply all year round to assist with basic household and development needs. The current source of water accessed by the community is unsafe, vulnerable to contamination easily accessed by animals and vermin posing a risk to community health. The project will also relieve women and children of carrying water.
The needs of the community for a clean, safe and adequate water supply are not being addressed locally or by Government Agencies or non-Government Agencies.
The project involved the construction of a concrete mini dam wall on a local stream above the village, creating a small pond from which water is drawn via 50 mm diameter gravity feed pipe line to two 9000 litre distribution tanks from which water will be reticulated throughout the Dudumia Village to service communal water distribution taps at the community centres and house clusters.
Funding: Cash from club US$6,000, Rotary District US$15,000 and The Rotary Foundation US$18,000. Total = US$39,000. Completed in 2012.
Medical Services Project in Papua New Guinea (in planning)
The proposal is to partner with other Rotary Clubs and to supply specialist medical equipment to hospitals in PNG. Assessment is currently being undertaken to assess the needs and the capacity to sustain the use and maintenance of the equipment. The project funding is expected to be in the order of US$45-50,000, with our club contributing up to US$10,000.
