Foundation

The Rotary Foundation

• Rotary International has more than 1.2 million members worldwide, making it a powerful force for good.
• Rotarians support communities through:
  • Local service projects
  • National initiatives
  • International humanitarian work
• Members raise funds for local causes and support The Rotary Foundation (TRF), Rotary's charitable arm.
• TRF provides:
  • Global Grants for large-scale international projects
  • District Grants for local and regional activities
  • Match eligible Rotary contributions - helping clubs maximise the impact of funds raised for projects.
• The Sidcup Rotary Foundation Committee aims to:
  • Promote giving to TRF
  • Encourage Foundation fundraising
  • Help the club qualify for and secure Foundation grants

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PolioPlus: Rotary's Flagship Humanitarian Programme

What is polio?

• Polio is a highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis and, in some cases, death.
• It primarily affects children under the age of five.
• There is no cure, but vaccination is a highly effective way of preventing the disease.

Rotary's Commitment

• Rotary launched its PolioPlus programme in 1985.
• Rotary became a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988.
• Since the programme began, cases of wild poliovirus have fallen by more than 99.9%.

Funding and Partnerships

• The Gates Foundation continues to match Rotary's contributions to polio eradication at a rate of 2:1.
• Rotary has contributed more than US$2.9 billion to polio eradication efforts.
• Rotary's advocacy has helped encourage governments to contribute more than US$11 billion to the global eradication effort.

Rotary in Action

• Rotary members continue to support vaccination campaigns across the world.
• Rotary has helped protect more than 3 billion children against polio in 122 countries.
• India was declared free of wild polio in 2014. The WHO certified the wider South-East Asia Region as polio-free that same year, marking one of the greatest public health achievements of modern times.

Progress Towards Eradication

• Wild poliovirus remains endemic in only two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• The number of countries where wild poliovirus was endemic has fallen from more than 125 in 1988 to just two today.
• [Remove this bullet as the 99.9% reduction is already covered under Rotary's Commitment.]

Why We Continue

• As long as polio exists anywhere, children everywhere remain at risk.
• If eradication efforts stopped, polio could once again spread rapidly around the world.
• Rotary remains committed to ensuring that no child ever suffers the devastating effects of polio again.

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Global Grants

What Are Global Grants?

• Funded through The Rotary Foundation, using contributions from clubs and districts, together with Foundation funding.
• Support sustainable, high-impact projects aligned with Rotary's Areas of Focus.
• Can support:
  • Humanitarian projects
  • Vocational training teams
  • Postgraduate scholarships

Global Grant Scholarships

• Supports postgraduate students undertaking studies abroad in one of Rotary's Areas of Focus.
• Scholarships can fund programmes lasting one to four years.
• Applicants must secure admission to a university before their scholarship can be approved.

Sidcup Rotary Success Story

• Sidcup Rotary sponsored a Global Grant Scholar in 2022–23.
• The scholar studied for an MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at the University of Westminster.
• She successfully completed her studies and is now working as a teacher.

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Key Message

Every donation to The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary tackle global challenges, support communities, develop future leaders and continue the fight to eradicate polio worldwide.