World Community Service
The Rotary Club of Kingston is committed to helping make the world a better place by supporting projects internationally. There are seven areas of focus that Rotary uses as guidelines for choosing projects:
Peace and Conflict Prevention / Resolution Disease Prevention and Treatment
Water and Sanitation
Maternal and Child Health
Basic Education and Literacy
Economic and Community Development
Environment
In 2022/23 we supported 8 projects
Project One
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Idjwi Island a water and sanitation project
This project is spearheaded by Rotarian Vicky Pearson. Through hygiene education and access to safe and private lavatories this project will improve learning conditions for over 500 girls and boys in 9 villages in North Idjwi.

The plan is to construct 10 VIP ventilated improved pit (VIP) toilets which are private, latrine-style lavatories. This will improve hygiene and sanitation for students and reduce the risks of infectious diseases like cholera, diarrhea and dysentery.
Reusable sanitary pads for personal hygiene and sanitation will also be provided in partnership with Tchuduku Women’s Training Center, Days for Girls, an enterprise sponsored by Cathy Cleary.
Project Two
Zambia: De Santo School for the Deaf
In April of 2022, members of our club participated in a Friendship Exchange to Zambia. While there they visited many potential projects in Lusaka, Livingstone and the Copperbelt region. On their return to Canada, they reviewed the projects with the International Service Committee who voted to support two of them.The first project is the De Santo School for the Deaf in Livingstone, a basic education and literacy project. The school wanted to add a workshop which would provide the older students with work-life skills that would allow them to support themselves in the future.
This project was totally funded by our club. The school is now in the process of contracting its construction in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Livingstone who oversee and manage the account.
Project Three
Zambia: Children’s Ward at the Roan Antelope General Hospital
The second Zambia project is the renovation of the Children’s Ward at the Roan Antelope General Hospital in Luanshya, a Maternal and Child Health project.This was the final stage of renovations to the hospital which were previously supported by a club in Georgia, USA. The Rotary Club of Kingston agreed to be the international partner with the Rotary Club of Luanshya for a $44,000 USD Global Grant which included a refurbishment of the physical structure and the provision of clean water. The project is complete. This marked the return of the Rotary Club of Kingston in taking a leadership role in international projects.
Luanshya Newsline - 30 June 2023 closes with the Rotary Club of Luanshya's President Dr. Julie Lamsis-Kruger cutting the ribbon to the newly commissioned and refurbished Roan Antelope General Hospital Children's Ward. Established in 1935, this hospital has continually served the Mining Community of Luanshya District as well as the residents of Masaiti District and Mpongwe District. Today, the hospital caters for more than 500,000+ individuals, young and old. Conditions at the hospital were appalling. A year ago, following a walk through with fellow Rotarians Peter Burrell and Carol Cartier staying at the club during a Rotary Friendship Exchange, a decision was made to help renovate. As a result and in partnership with the Rotary Club of Kingston, Canada (D7040) and friends, the clubs took on the challenge, raised $44,000 in grant funds and embarked on this much needed facelift and infrastructure upgrade. The pediatric physician and nursing staff commented that: "This is an entirely new segment of our hospital which exudes calm among our young patients. The children will not want to go home." The entirety of the Children's Ward was renovated, from sleeping quarters, to isolation room, sluice room, toilets, baths, storerooms, linen closets, kitchen, and much more. Additionally, fresh water and sanitation with a water tower and tank now provides a consistent, clean supply of water to the facility. The project was completed in only 8 weeks! What a wonderful conclusion to a successful year. All it took was a little "IMAGINATION"
Project Four
Kenya: Tenderfoot School, a Basic Education and Literacy Project
T
his project lis being ed by Bill Gray of the Cataraqui Club. TheTender Foot School in Nairobi began in 1996 with one rented room and ten students at Kangemi. Today it has two plots and buildings at both locations.
his project lis being ed by Bill Gray of the Cataraqui Club. TheTender Foot School in Nairobi began in 1996 with one rented room and ten students at Kangemi. Today it has two plots and buildings at both locations.Last month, the Government of Kenya gave approval for Tender Foot School to become a Junior Secondary School in addition to grades kindergarten to Grade 6. A very exciting development!
They are now building and furnishing the final five classrooms with the help of a $70,000 USD grant.
Project Five
Nepal: Warm Clothes Project
We have a 20-year history with Nepal. Projects we have supported are:
- the building of a school,
- providing scholarships for students,
- supporting the purchase of locally produced water filters,
- helping with the building of irrigation ponds,
- supporting financial literacy in High Schools,
- helping to purchase an ambulance for a kidney dialysis clinic,
- development of a back-pack program in Shree Public School,
- a menstrual hygiene program and
- supporting Sanskriti Farms.
We have also been involved with a Fruit and Nut tree project which helped create resilient agriculture and economic development through a sustainable farming model. This project integrated solutions to socio-economic and environmental challenges facing rural Nepali communities.
Fruits and Nuts are easy to grow and require less water. Some of the goals of this project include:
- engaging youth in fruit and nut tree farming;
- increasing organic vegetable production for improved food security and income generation after the COVID19 Pandemic;
- diversifying diets to improve nutrition in the local community;
- contributing to public health especially the health of mothers and children and
- strengthening the natural environment by planting fruit trees that do not require pesticides and that will prevent soil erosion.
T
his year we helped with a Warm Clothes Project in partnership with the Rotary Club of Kathmandu Height
his year we helped with a Warm Clothes Project in partnership with the Rotary Club of Kathmandu HeightMost of the community school students are from poor farming backgrounds. The families are unable to support their basic needs. Many students drop out of school for various reasons. Winter is difficult and cold for these students. This project helped provide warm sweaters and hats for 250 primary students in this community.
Project Six
Tanzania: Jotham
Our club is supporting a student in Tanzania. This is an educational scholarship program to empower vulnerable children through education sponsorship. It takes place at the Timothy Massawe School on the south-western slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Our commitment is for a full Primary school sponsorship meaning until standard 7 in Tanzania.
They have a student:teacher ratio of 25:1 which is much better than the national norm.
As sponsors, we will receive pictures, report cards, etc. It will be fun to support and follow young Jotham’s schooling over the next 7 years.
Project Seven
Uganda: a malaria disease and prevention project
Malaria is epidemic in 95% of Uganda, with some of the highest malaria transmission intensities reported in the world.Areas in Northern Kampala have many people living in slums with very high levels of poverty, unemployment, violence, prostitution, poor environment sanitation, floods, stagnant water and filthy ground because of its swampy terrain.
The aim of this project is to:
- distribute mosquito nets, reusable sanitary pads, antimalarial medicine,
- organize community clean ups,
- advocate for better hygiene and sanitation through good garbage management,
- cut down grass, unblock trenches, plant trees that are mosquito repellant,
- fumigate homes and mosquito breeding places.
Project Eight
India: a Water and Sanitation projectOur club is the International Partner for this sanitation and hygiene in a girl’s secondary school in Vandavasi. The project has been accepted by TRF and money is being submitted.
