International Service Committee - Providing Aid for The Developing World
International Service Committee
The focus of the International Service Committee is to assist marginalized people in the developing world. The committee pays particular attention to projects that fall within Rotary International’s six areas of focus. These are:
- Promoting peace
- Fighting disease
- Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
- Saving mothers and children
- Supporting education
- Growing local economies
Projects are done in partnership with Canadian Registered Charities, other Rotary Clubs, both locally and in the developing world, and with financial assistance from Rotary International.
2017-2018 Highlights
Following upon our successes in 2016-2017, ISC saw a number of projects come to fruition. Most importantly was the Global Grant we undertook in partnership with the Rotary Club of Bombay Airport to build toilet blocks for girls in rural India. The first phase of this project has been initiated and will see 24 toilet blocks built which dovetails in with our mandate to provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene as well as supporting education as without access to these facilities many girls would not continue going to school. ISC is now exploring the option to take on the second phase of this project which will see many more toilet blocks built.
Another major endeavour that ISC took on over the past year was to help facilitate a Club member’s private donation of solar panels to a school in Ghana that ISC had previous provided funding for. After a long process of obtaining the necessary permits and documentation, the solar panels are in Ghana and are being installed at the school. This will provide a secure source of electricity to the school that otherwise would not be possible. Again this relates directly with our mandate in focussing on supporting education and growing local economies.
ISC also continues to focus on projects where a relatively small donation on our part can be leveraged into big dollar amounts thereby making a more meaningful impact on the projects we choose to support. In addition to the projects above, we supported the following:
- C$3,200 to Hope School Kenya to build underground water storage for reserve/irrigation for the school.
- U$3,000 + expenses to Ukranian Association for the Blind. This was part of a Global Grant championed by the Alliston Rotary club.
- C$3,000 to the Canadian Landmine Foundation towards the EOD Team 5, a de-mining team, in Cambodia.
- C$3,900 to the Kuenzi Foundation to build a dormitory in Zambia.
- C$2,000 grant be given to the Rotary Club of Batticaloa in Sri Lanka to build toilets in a remote village.
- C$2,000.00 to the Rotary Club of Uxbridge for the Adolescent Peer Support Pilot project in Malawi.
I wanted to say thanks to all the members of the International Service Committee who helped over the course of the past year to make impactful decisions that will better the lives of people in the developing world. Specifically, Jeff Dobson, Lawrence Foerster, Saleem Kassum, David Libby, Errol Paulicpulle, CJ Shah, Peter Simmie, and Chris Snyder. A special word of thanks is reserved for Derek Matisz who for the majority of the year was a diligent and efficient minute taker. As well as Andrea Tirone who as our Vice-Chair was quick to jump in and lend support and leadership whenever needed. The committee will be in good hands with Andrea at the helm. Maureen Bird who’s knowledge of Global Grants, Agency Agreements and money transfers is second to none. This committee would be nowhere without her tenacity and knowledge. Finally, a thank you to our Club Board Liaison, Prince Kumar, who ensured that ISC’s voice was heard at the Board level and all of our hare-brained schemes were presented in a fair manner.
John Farrell, Chair