Rotary International

Rotary International is one of the world's largest and most renowned service organizations. It is a non-political and non-religious entity committed to providing service to others, promoting integrity, and advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

History

Rotary International was founded on February 23, 1905, by Paul P. Harris in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The organization grew rapidly, establishing its first Rotary club outside the United States in 1910 in Winnipeg, Canada. Today, Rotary International has more than 1.4 million members worldwide, organized into over 46,000 clubs across more than 220 countries.

Mission and Objectives

The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace. The Rotary ethos is encapsulated in its Object of Rotary and the Four-Way Test, which serves as a guide for personal and professional behavior. The Four-Way Test emphasizes truth, fairness, goodwill, and benefit to all concerned.

Structure

Rotary International operates through a hierarchical structure consisting of Rotary clubs, districts, zones, and the international organization. Each club is autonomous but adheres to the policies and procedures of Rotary International. Clubs are grouped into districts, which are led by District Governors. These districts are further organized into regional zones, each led by regional leaders.

Programs and Activities

Rotary focuses on seven key areas of service:

• Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution: Promoting peace and resolving conflicts through various initiatives.
• Disease Prevention and Treatment: Fighting diseases such as polio through vaccination campaigns.
• Health of Mothers and Children: Improving maternal and child health through better healthcare access and education.
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: Ensuring access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.
• Education: Supporting education initiatives to combat illiteracy.
• Economic and Community Development: Growing local economies and supporting community development projects.
• Supporting the Environment: Protecting the environment through sustainable practices.

The PolioPlus program, launched in 1985, is one of Rotary's most notable initiatives. It has significantly contributed to the global eradication of polio, with Rotarians donating over $850 million to immunize millions of children worldwide.

The Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation, established in 1917, is Rotary's charitable arm. It transforms donations into service projects worldwide, supporting Rotary's service areas. Since its inception, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on sustainable projects. It is recognized for its excellent financial management and has consistently received high charity ratings.

The Foundation is supported solely by donations and is governed by a Board of Trustees. It provides grants for local and global projects, empowering Rotarians to address challenges like poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions.