​International Service
Rotary Club’s Worldwide Activity
The International team leads the Club’s participation in Rotary’s worldwide mission of service. Here are some of our activities and their impact
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We support charities that provide humanitarian aid, establishing social and working relationships with other Rotary Clubs around the world. In the recent past we have....
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Raised funds to support flood victims in Morocco, Libya and Pakistan; helped fund an engineering task force – SARAID - giving aid after the devastating explosion in Lebanon
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During the COVID epidemic we worked with other Rotary groups near Kolkata providing relief to Indian villages, including supplies like oxygen concentrators.
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We send funds to Shelter Box who have an excellent reputation for fast assistance follow a disaster.
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We help others in Ashtead take action (such as donating clothing and used tools), and join them in fundraisers for international charities we also support. These initiatives include those where Rotary members or Ashtead residents are taking an active leadership role.
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We have worked with our the wider Rotary District to provide Ukraine residents winter clothing during the first year of the war.
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We continue to support ‘Tools for Self-Reliance` by collecting tools locally to be distributed to African developing countries
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We try to channel funds to smaller charities and support work by local Rotary clubs working in areas with high needs where our donations can make a big impact. For example....
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Lendwithcare – an organization that provides modest loans to individuals and teams of small entrepreneurs in developing countries
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Hoveraid – providing Madagascar remote communities with medical services.
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o Infant Club Foot Appeal – is a charity set up by an Ashtead Doctor in Zanzibar to treat Club Foot and other limb deformities. Our last donation helped support training a technician working with children in an island adjacent to Zanzibar.
o The Haven Dragonfly – is a charity providing a catering education for Cambodian orphans.
o Precious Sisters – is an educational fund for young women in Kenya
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Victims of War and Conflict – over 2023 and 2024 we raised over £30,000 for Afghan and Ukraine refugees. We have provided funds to support the Epsom and Ewell Refugee Network who have assisted with temporary housing, English language education, and help with finding employment and social support - there are over 200 Ukraine refugees alone living in our local area. We have an established relationship with Kyiv City Rotary and assisted with project like temporary housing and support for children.
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We work with other UK clubs and donate funds to the Rotary Foundation - Collectively, through The Rotary Foundation, 46,000 worldwide Rotary Clubs pool resources to fund major initiatives; since 1985 Rotary has contributed more than $2.6 billion to polio eradication efforts and over $75 million has been donated to reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. The Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the efforts of Rotary International to promote world understanding, goodwill, and peace through various humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs
How we raise funds
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We spend a share of funds raised by Ashtead Rotary Club events like Ashtead Village Day, but also raise funds specifically support our international mission.
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From International Team Events
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In 2023 we ran a concert at St. George’s Church to raise money for the victims of war in Ukraine – the concert featured a multi-talented Ukrainian group folk singers and a local choir put together for the occasion.
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o In 2023 we ran a wine and food tasting evening at Greenwise, a South African owned shop in Ashtead.​​
o In 2024 we ran a concert at the Yehudi Menuhin School that included talented music students from our local schools and YMS students.
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• When emergencies occur, we set up and advertise programmes like ‘Go Fund Me’ and ‘Just Giving’. These programmes have met with considerable success from our local community.
• Over the last few years our International Team has raised a total of over £40,000 for special causes with the support of our other club members.