International Humanitarian Projects

International Humanitarian Projects 
Chair: Rob Northrup
 
Time: Variable
 
Size: 25  Past Minutes; Projects; Rotary International

This committee identifies, develops and executes humanitarian projects with other Rotary Clubs in third world countries. These projects are funded from several sources including Club funds, and District and Rotary Foundation contributions. Typical recent projects are Electronic Reading machines for India, Furniture for an orphanage in the Philippines, Constructing artificial fishing reefs in the Philippines, Club Foot remediation in Ghana, Library books in Turkey, Wells in India, Irrigation ponds in Sri Lanka and others.
 
Committee work involves identifying potential projects through Rotary and non Rotary sources, proactive contacts to other rotary districts and Clubs and other sources, negotiation of project details with foreign Club to met our and Rotary foundation guidelines, proposal of project to our committee, shepherding of formal project application through Rotary approval process, oversight of project execution by the foreign Club including formal completion and communication of project to our Club and District. In some cases committee members or other Club members may wish to visit project sites to see project results first hand and report back to the Club.

Most project work is done through email and possibly phone conversations with foreign Club members, Rotary district and Rotary Foundation officials. Members find that this is an excellent way to "meet" people around the globe and develop a lasting and rewarding relationship with people you would never meet otherwise.
 
Members who actively develop and manage projects typically work on them over a period of several to many months. Finding potential projects might involve email contacts to unearth partner Clubs and projects. Likewise, shepherding projects through the approval process usually involves intensive email contacts to refine and gain full understanding of the project. The work is much like project management work.  During active periods, the time commitment is probably not more that a few hours a week.