By Rtn Godfrey Okello-Omoding
The Rotary Foundation (TRF) is an integral part of Rotary, feeding its part of the wheel through interventions and image-building around the world. Its mission is to help Rotary members advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by, among others, improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty. At a time like this, when the world is in turbulence, economically and politically, and geopolitics is at play, TRF becomes especially relevant.
In times of soaring problems, there ought to be a wheel that can be rolled in addressing some of the challenges. A wheel that can pull financial spokes from across and around the world. And channel it to the centre for distribution to meet the dire needs in various communities.
The theme of this month-The Rotary Foundation- connects us to the incredible decision taken in 1928 to establish a foundation. This decision has, so far, resulted in Rotary spending over USD four billion on life-changing interventions across the world. Members remain with the sole role of financially contributing to it before looking out for additional funds from friends.
One of the many questions the theme of this month Rotarians ought to ponder is, “How can the wheel be sustained rolling”? Any plan, in the first place, lies squarely with Rotarians themselves to keep the wheel moving forward. Discussions this month ought to pivot around widening streams of giving, donations and connecting with ways of meeting increasing demands.
A sense of urgency in giving to TRF is more necessary now than before. Times are turbulent, generating a lot of effects that are impacting different communities negatively. For instance, climatic effects are there and blind to discrimination. They are hitting hard on already vulnerable communities; in most cases, the least pollutants. Food stocks are reducing, and some communities are forced to cut their rations to survive another day.
Increasing conflicts in the world, on the other hand, are also generating refugees. Generating vulnerability in what would have been settled communities. Narrowing and cuts in development aid are affecting the delivery of social services in already vulnerable communities, and deepening vulnerability in others. In many different ways, such communities are set back.
Amidst wars are complex geopolitics and economic changes, which are making it increasingly more difficult for people to meet daily requirements and obtain adequate services. Priorities of wealthy donor nations are shifting, leaving a number of vacuums. In all these dynamics, Rotary remains with its paired goodwill and commitment to see humanity made better. Its response is a determination which is coupled with knowing that its members are a backup force.
Rotarians ought to continue bridging gaps and be carriers of hope. In some instances, be catalysts and players in whatever small parts in igniting development, innovations, coping and supporting adaptations. Leadership in clubs is, therefore, a space to think more about finding, broadly, ways to reengage with members; bringing them together and getting TRF purposes known, appreciated and understood.
Contributing to TRF comes from an understood view that this is a vehicle for solving challenges of the world. And it is motivating to be part of those who contribute to help and create lasting impacts. Particularly in this hard time, with development assistance contracting, where some important aspects of human survival are affected, there is a need for reliable alternatives. TRF can be that reliable alternative development pot of funding.
Areas of need today are more than before. It requires rolling out new strategies in raising and strengthening TRF giving. The new strategies ought to be led by approved and tested goodwill, anchored in Rotary core values. History should be our witness that during the time of tough funding challenges, Rotarians made sacrifices, sacrifices of bettering humanity. They ensured that their organisation, TRF, remained strong partners in supporting communities. Its strength bore the names of its members. Its members went all ways, finding strategies for supporting their organisation.
In its over 100 years of history, TRF should remain standing tall in its seven areas of focus and make worthy contributions. Giving hope where there is no hope, saving lives and eradicating some diseases from the earth. Remaining a trusted organisation in supporting and navigating world challenges. Planting more footprints beyond its present horizon. This is a call for its members to give as people of action. Let us keep creating lasting impact.