From humble beginnings in 1905, when founded by Chicago lawyer Paul Harris, Rotary has grown into an organisation with more than 34,000 clubs worldwide, with each and every member donating time and talent to serve both their own community and those in need around the world.
Rotarians are leaders in their field who represent the values of integrity and ethics in business and within the community. They share a common purpose: to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards and help build goodwill and peace in the world.
Today, the power of Rotary is best demonstrated by the enormous success of their biggest ever project: the worldwide eradication of Polio. We have not yet reached that goal, however the end is very much in sight.
Membership of Rotary clubs is open to men and women of every ethnic group, political persuasion, language and religious belief. Rotary’s 34,000 clubs and 1.2 million members serve communities around the world, each with unique concerns and needs.
The most successful and sustainable Rotary service tends to fall within one of the following six strategic focus areas of Rotary:
► Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
► Disease prevention and treatment
► Water and Sanitation
► Maternal and child health
► Basic education and literacy
► Economic and community development