International Work

Introduction

For many years The Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper has been involved in a number of projects in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, working with local charities and Rotary Clubs. These have included providing basic farming tools and animals; building a well; providing mosquito nets; training for doctors; the setting up 30+ micro credit schemes for working farmers and village groups in Uganda; working with street children in Kenya; school uniform and food programmes in Kenyan schools. Vesper members have visited Africa many times and hands-on work has included training in animal care for farmers, training in business enterprise for farmers and the self-employed; and taking street children on camping trips at Christmas.

The Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper supports the End Polio Now project, both financially and by members supporting National Immunisations Days in India.

We respond to natural disasters by supporting ShelterBox, a disaster relief charity operating worldwide. The charity was founded in 2000 supported by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in Cornwall.

Working in Africa

The Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper has established links with the Rotary Club of Mubende, a town some 100 miles west of Kampala and as a result we have been helped greatly in identifying projects in Uganda, particularly around Mubende district. In time we have also extended our work in Africa to Kenya and Tanzania and club members pay regular visits to the region.

Polio

Every year, hundreds of Rotary members work side-by-side with health workers to vaccinate children in polio-affected countries. Read about Richard and Hazel's experience of the February 2016 Polio National Immunisation Day in India.

Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation is Rotary's own charity and has one of the lowest administrative overheads of all international charities.

Twinning

The Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper is twinned with the Dutch Rotary Club of Breda Mark en Aa, and the two clubs have worked together on several projects over the years, visiting each other several times.

Twinning visit 2013

Twenty six members of the Rotary Clubs of Abingdon Vesper, Breda Mark & Aa, and Sophia Antipolis visited Rome from 23rd to 27th May 2013. Read a report of the visit.

Professional exchanges

The Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper is a keen supporters of the Rotary Vocational Training Team, which gives young professionals an opportunity to experience life and work in another culture.