5 April 2024

Rotary project supplies clean water in Zimbabwe

Located about 160 kilometers (99 miles) from Harare, Zimbabwe, the villages of Musekiwa and Mushaki have been drastically affected by the country’s water shortage. Residents once walked five kilometers (three miles) or more every day to find water. That changed when members of the Rotary Club of Saint Helena, California, USA, collaborated with the Rotary Club of Harare CBD, Zimbabwe, on a Rotary Foundation global grant. The grant provided two wells, solar-powered pumps, and a water piping system while training residents to maintain the equipment and teaching them about hygiene. Rotary has awarded 1,247 global grants for WASH projects since 2019. Learn more about this project.

Florida Rotarian paints pet portraits for cleft lip surgeries

George Lewis joined the Rotary Club of Venice-Nokomis, Florida, USA, well into his 70s, but quickly found his purpose in Rotary. Lewis took part in a service project to install stoves for Mayan families in 2006 and learned of their need for clean drinking water. Organizing water projects with the help of district and global grants became his passion. Recently, he has turned his energies toward putting together grants to provide cleft lip surgeries. He has painted hundreds of pet portraits to raise money for the grants. Learn more of Lewis’ story on Rotary Voices.

Open World program fosters global connections

In 2023, Brenda Pollock’s Rotary Club of Biddeford-Saco, Maine, USA, was selected to host a delegation from Ukraine through the Open World program. The program allows Rotary and Rotaract clubs to host and curate multi-day visits for emerging Eurasian leaders. The visitors gain insight into local government, business, and community dynamics in the United States while fostering international understanding. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Rotary’s participation in the Open World Program. Read more about this exciting experience in Pollock’s blog post for Rotary Service in Action.