We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development and create opportunities for decent and productive work for young and old. We also strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.
Growing Futures in Timor-Leste is a Rotary project partnering with Rai Matak’s 50-year plan to plant 10 million trees, generate certified carbon income for farming families and communities, transforming rural livelihoods across Timor-Leste and restoring farmland from deforestation.
President José Ramos-Horta, Nobel Peace Laureate and President of Timor-Leste, spoke last week at at the Australasian Emission Reduction Summit in Melbourne. His message on courage, youth leadership and reforestation featured Rotary Melbourne’s burgeoning new partnership with Foundation Rai Matak and the Rotary Foundation - upscaling the proven WithOneSeed model to now grow 10 million trees in 10 years - helping 20,000 farming families and their communities plant trees, grow livelihoods through the sale of carbon credits, and shape a hopeful future in Timor-Leste.
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.
The “Sewing Machines for East Timor” project encompasses collecting sewing machines and overlockers to be refurbished and shipped to the Canossian Sisters in Timor-Leste, to the coffee highlands of Ermera and the main capital city of Dili.
After meeting seven disabled women working in a tin shed in Kathmandu, a then 22 year old tour guide Stephanie Woollard, with her last $200, paid for a trainer to teach the women how to produce products for sale locally and abroad - and Seven Women was born. Since then, Seven Women has empowered over 5,000 women in Nepal through education and employment.
Rotary Melbourne in conjunction with Stewart Craine's Village Infrastructure organisation, helped provide solar power to remote villages on Tanna in Vanuatu to provide lighting, to mill crops and to recharge mobile phones.
Typhoon Mangkhut, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Ompong, was a strong typhoon which struck the Northern Philippines islands on 14 September 2018 with disastrous flooding. Thanks to Bob Glindemann, Ruth Carlos Martinez and Members, a call to action was undertaken successfully.
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.
East Timor Roofing was established as a Rotary project in mid 2000 by Rotary Clubs of Doncaster 45%, Melbourne 45% and joined subsequently by Rotary Club of Lilydale 10%to provide training and opportunities for the people of Timor Leste to help them help themselves to greater sustainability as a nation and as a people. From a start of “zero base” the operation is now a fully established incorporated limited liability Company in Timor Leste.
