International Service

Role of the International Service Committee

The International Committee is responsible for global projects, fundraising events for international causes and for determining how the budget allocated to this committee is to be disbursed. We seek to help organisations that have close ties to people in Ashtead and the surrounding Surrey area and where we have total confidence that the donation will go directly to the people in need. In addition to supporting individual projects selected by Ashtead Rotary Club, we contribute annually to Rotary Foundation to allow them to tackle large-scale global issues, for example the eradication of polio worldwide.

Example of previously supported projects include:

• Tools for Self Reliance: A charity aiming to reduce poverty in Africa by helping people build sustainable livelihoods through the provision of tools and training.

• Shelterboxes: Supporting disaster victims by providing the means to start rebuilding their lives. Each box contains a tent shelter, tools, cooking equipment, bedding and even toys for children. This organisation is supported by Rotary International and one that Ashtead Rotary is proud to directly support with local funds.

• The Wheelchair Foundation: A non-profit organisation with a goal to provide a free wheelchair to every child, teen and adult worldwide who needs one, but has no means to acquire one. Supported worldwide by Rotary International and through direct funds from Ashtead Rotary.

• Ebenezer Child Care Trust: A charity supporting orphaned children in Zambia to find "A place to call home and someone to call Mum". Ebenezer Village was born in 2006 and includes three orphanages, a primary school, a fruit farm and a chapel. Future projects include a secondary school, shops to sell the farm produce and a skills training college.

• Infant Club Foot Appeal: A charity working in Zanzibar and founded by a local Ashtead resident that treats infant club foot and trains local staff in the treatments.

• RUSH UK: Reaching the Unreached through Self-Help is a charity working in Kenya and Tanzania to improve all aspects of life for example, education, healthcare and infrastructure.

• CHANCE for Nepal: A charity, founded by Barbara Datson, working to improve the lives of sick and under-privileged children in Nepal. Ashtead Rotary Club has sponsored a milk project at The Pegasus School in the Kathmandu Valley to contribute to the health and nutrition of 40 homeless, primary school children.

If you would like to know more about the activities of this committee or have a suggestion for an international project that requires support, please feel free to contact the International Committee Chairman using the form below.