International Service Committee
Alongside the work of supporting local community organised projects in the Canterbury area, the Club also raises funds for carefully selected overseas projects dedicated to the relief of poverty and suffering.
The International Service Committee meets monthly and consists of a team of experienced Rotarians, some of whom have first hand experience with working in less developed countries with poor communities. Each month they consider applications for small grants for overseas assistance in India, Africa and other places where a small donation can have a direct and significant impact on the health, education or care of vulnerable people. In each case we try to ensure that our assistance is monitored carefully. In many cases local people from the Canterbury area are directly involved with the charity and when they return from a period of work in a country they visit the Club and report back directly to the members.
In the last year we have supported Aids orphans in Malawi and South Africa, helped in children’s centres in Mexico and Bangladesh. We have funded the drilling of a new well in a village Sierra Leone, and assisted a UK charity providing support for local medical consultants in hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Smile Malawi’s Children’s Centre in Blantyre
In addition to this type of work we consider applications for assistance from young people in Canterbury who are visiting developing countries to undertake meaningful work with disadvantaged people in community projects. This type of working visit is a life changing experience and instils in them an understanding of the needs of others and helps to shape their future lifestyle, creating a desire to be of service to their communities and the world they live in.
The Rotary Club of Canterbury is providing major support for the upgrading of a District hospital in Ghana. This large project is being undertaken with Rotarians in Holland, Germany, France and Belgium. The truly international dimensions of Rotary allow us to cooperate and work with other Rotary clubs across the world.
Whenever an earthquake or disaster occurs around the world we try to respond immediately to Rotary organised agencies providing Aquaboxes - specialised equipment which produce clean drinking water.
Aquaboxes being prepared for shipment overseas
Another Rotary-organised project that we support is providing fully equipped tents (Shelterboxes) for overseas disasters and emergencies.
Shelterboxes waiting airfreight to Goma for the Congo
refugees. Each box contains a tent housing 10 people
and essential cooking equipment and tools.
