The 24th of February marked one year since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. We are pleased as a club to have helped those affected by the war and contributed to the help given by Rotarians in Great Britain & Ireland.
Over the last 12 months, members from the three Rotary clubs in Canterbury have played a part in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine by raising funds for humanitarian relief and also by helping support refugees who have arrived in the local area. We have also reported previously about how our Rotary District has supported families made homeless.
These activities have been part of Rotary’s efforts across Great Britain and Ireland, which has seen the organisation’s members give in excess of 100,000 volunteer hours and raise more than £6 million of donations in cash and kind. This has included everything from initial emergency fundraising when the conflict first began, through to large-scale humanitarian projects providing lifesaving equipment to new-born babies and building temporary homes in destroyed Ukrainian villages. Closer to home, Rotary has also been focused on supporting displaced families who have resettled to the UK.
The amount of money Rotary has raised and time that volunteers have given across the country shows the power of collective action and the incredible impact which can come from working together.
President of our Club, Tony Loughran, said: “it was sombre to mark the 1st anniversary of the war, and our thoughts are very much with those that have been directly or indirectly affected by the conflict. We are pleased to have been able to work with other Rotary clubs in Canterbury and give our support to Ukraine. We remain thankful to the local community for generously supporting our fundraising efforts."
Peace is a cornerstone of Rotary’s global mission, and while the war rages on, Rotary continues to be committed to providing help and support wherever it can. You can read more about Rotary’s response to the conflict in Ukraine here.
If you would like to donate towards our fundraising for the DEC, please click on the dedicated section on our home page.
If you're interested in knowing more about Rotary in general, or in joining us, please contact us by email or via our social media platforms.
Picture: A visual summary of Rotary efforts from Rotary in Great Britain & Ireland. Picture credit: Rotary in Great Britain & Ireland.
