By Rtn Sylvia Nankya
The District 9213 Conference (DISCON 102) team has released the awards criteria for the 2026-2027 Rotary Year, outlining the standards Rotary clubs will be assessed against for recognition at the district conference.
The awards are intended to motivate clubs to strengthen Rotary, grow membership, deliver sustainable community service projects, support The Rotary Foundation (TRF) and enhance Rotary's public image.
According to the criteria, the awards are aligned with Rotary International's four strategic priorities: increasing impact, expanding reach, enhancing participant engagement and increasing the ability to adapt. They are divided into two categories. The first comprises awards determined automatically through official District, My Rotary and DISCON records, while the second requires clubs to submit applications for evaluation by the District Awards Committee.
The Rotary Foundation Awards
Under the TRF category, clubs will be recognised for their financial contributions to Rotary Foundation programmes, including the Annual Fund, Endowment Fund, PolioPlus Fund and Global Grants. The TRF Club of the Year Award will recognise clubs with the highest total contributions, with awards presented according to club size. Other categories include the TRF Per Capita Regional Award, Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) Award and Regional PolioPlus Award.
Public Image Awards
The Public Image category recognises clubs that effectively promote Rotary's visibility and protect its brand. Awards include the Club Bulletin Award, Public Image Award, Social Media Award and Rotary Eyamba Award. Under this category, clubs will be assessed on the consistency and quality of their communication, media coverage, audience engagement, Rotary-compliant branding and the ability to demonstrate community impact through compelling stories.
Service Project Awards
The Service Project category recognises initiatives that create measurable and lasting community change. Among the awards are Global Grant Projects, Global Grant Collaboration and non-Global Grant projects supporting Maternal and Child Health, Disease Prevention and Treatment, the Environment, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Basic Education and Literacy.
Projects will be evaluated based on their value, number of beneficiaries, sustainability, measurable outcomes and public image. Clubs seeking recognition are expected to provide verifiable evidence of their achievements, including project reports, photographs, partnerships and media coverage.
The complete awards criteria, including all categories and eligibility requirements, are available through this link https://bit.ly/4iEUiky
The application window for awards requiring club submissions will open on January 1, 2027, and close on March 31, 2027, ahead of the District Conference which will take place in Gulu from April 29 to May 1, 2027, where the winning clubs will be recognised.