Rotary Club of Broadstairs

Sat Jan 14th 2012
Explaniation of the role of the Foundation Committee of the Rotary Cub of Broadstairs

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes world understanding through international humanitarian service programs and educational and cultural exchanges. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and others who share its vision of a better world.

Since 1947, the Foundation has awarded more than US$1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants, which are initiated and administered by local Rotary clubs and districts.

In Broadstairs this years sponsored charity is Mercy Ships.  The Africa Mercy is the newest of the ships operated by Mercy Ships, an international charity dedicated to bringing healthcare to the poorest people in the world. To read more about the work of Mercy Ships, please click here.

The ship was originally built as a 16 thousand tonne train ferry for the Norwegian Railways. It was donated to the charity with help from Norwegian charitable foundations and then was converted in Newcastle -upon-Tyne to a hospital ship with a complete refit costing £30 million. It now boasts six operating theatres and hospital wards which can accommodate 87 patients.

The range of medical/surgical procedures completed on the ship is very wide and includes the repair of cleft lips and palates, the removal of cataracts, dental work, and many other conditions.