More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.
In rural, mountainous Isabela, Philippines, Dangan Elementary School faces limited access to water, sanitation, and educational resources. Students fetch water daily, and literacy is hampered by a lack of supplies. Rotary Melbourne together with a Melbourne Primary school is transforming lives by providing clean water, a new library, 380+ books, teaching aids, and sustainable gardens. This project fosters health, education, and resilience, creating a legacy of hope and opportunity for the future.
Rotary Melbourne's Christmas Appeal recipient in 2024 is Western Chances. Through scholarships, opportunity programs, and ongoing support, we don’t just help young people achieve their goals - we empower them to return to their communities with knowledge, skills, and hope. Please make a special Christmas donation this year.
Our life-changing scholarship program with Empowering Youth Cambodia (EYC) enables over 50 children annually from run-down shanty houses, in the urban poor slums of Phnom Penh to attend high school. These schools provide education, leadership, development and job opportunities for vulnerable boys and girls.
In 2017, Rotary Melbourne signed an MOU with the Minister for Education in Timor Leste for the publication and shipment of a series of books written by Kirsty Sword Gusmao, Timor’s first lady to enhance the opportunities for school children in Timor to have access to publications in Tetun and Portuguese for reading. Several books were written, published, and sent to Timor via Donations In Kind (DIK).
Rotary Melbourne has partnered with Monash University's BioEYES program supporting students with science and STEM.
BioEYES Australia is an award-winning, innovative, hands-on approach to teaching primary and secondary students about science. Over the course of a week, students nurture the development of zebrafish embryos, observing the transparent eggs change from a single-celled zygote to a free swimming larvae.
When club member Barry White brought along his brother Neville to a Rotary Melbourne meeting in 2003, who knew what would inspire a multi-year, multi-million dollar commitment to build a community centre and school, train teachers, and give support to the remote homeland community of Donydji in North East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.
We The Smith Family's Learning for Life program by raising funds the Around the Bay Bicycle Project. Each year, Rotarians and friends volunteer their time, generating much needed financial support to The Smith Family which provides financial, tutoring and mentoring services to students in need.
Rotary Donations in Kind Store (DIK) Footscray. This Rotary created warehouse is a hub for collecting goods donated in bulk such as hospital beds and equipment, and school desks for charitable purposes. Rotary volunteers support DiK store by helping to sort and load containers for shipment to local and off-shore projects.
For more information on how to become involved, contact the club office.
A fire broke out at the Empowering Youth in Cambodia Youth School - and Rotary Melbourne stepped in to help.
