Rotary International , the world’s first service club organisation, is made up of over 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographic areas.  Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self” exemplifies the humanitarian spirit of the organisation’s more than 1.2 million members.

Strong fellowship among Rotarians and meaningful community and international service projects characterise Rotary and the contribution of Rotary worldwide is significant. 

Did you know, for example, that, in 1945-6, 49 Rotarians helped to draft the UN Charter?   And did you know that the Polio-Plus programme to immunise all children in the world was founded in 1984 by Rotary.  Large parts of the world have, as a direct result, been declared Polio free.   Such was the impression that this made upon Bill Gates (incidentally, the son of a Rotarian) that his Foundation recently contributed $200 million to the end Polio Campaign.  It will surely not be long before the world is completely polio free.

Two recent Rotary highlights were when the Financial Times, in July 2007, ranked Rotary International one of the top five NGOs for corporate partnerships. In the newspaper’s special supplement, “Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy”, Rotary ranked 5th among 34 global finalists.

And on 25 October 2007, the United Nations Association in New York honoured Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation with its 2007 Humanitarian Award.  This is in recognition of Rotary’s significant efforts to provide safe water and sanitation and its commitment worldwide to sustainable development.