from The Rotary Club of Halifax North West
Welcome to the monthly newsletter from the Rotary Club of Halifax Northwest, where we share the club’s and Rotary’s news and activities with the communities we serve. The Rotary theme for October is one of Rotary’s six areas of focus, Community Economic Development.
Unemployment, underemployment, lack of economic opportunity, lack of appropriate training, and the absence of social safety nets lie at the core of poverty. Creating productive employment opportunities is essential for reducing poverty and achieving sustainable economic and social development, and for providing income security and empowerment especially for women, people with disabilities, youth, and the extremely poor.
Quick Facts
• The Rotary Foundation spent $9.2 million globally to grow local economies and reduce poverty last year.
• 795 million, or 1 in 9 people in the world — do not have enough to eat.
• 60% of the world’s hungry people are women and girls.
• 70% of the world’s poorest people live in rural areas and depend on agriculture and related activities for their livelihood.
These facts are a testament to Rotary members’ passion about providing sustainable solutions to poverty.
ROTARIANS MAKE AMAZING THINGS HAPPEN, LIKE:
Agricultural Opportunities:
70% of the world’s poorest people live in rural areas and depend on agriculture and related activities for their livelihood. Entrepreneurs in rural communities can borrow money to buy livestock or plant crops or get training in sustainable farming.
Microloans:
Breaking the cycle of poverty for women: Most of the women living in rural Guatemala do not have the collateral to get loans from regulated financial institutions. The Rotary Club of Guatemala de la Ermita helped 400 local women complete financial literacy courses so they could pool their money and fund their own microlending program.
Skills Development, Business Training:
In Esmeraldas, Ecuador, Rotary members helped grant more than 250 microloans and train more than 270 community members in sewing, baking, plumbing, microcredit, business management, and leadership. Sustainable Farming: In west Cameroon, soil erosion and loss of soil fertility have significantly reduced farmers’ harvests. Rotary members gave farmers the skills they needed to improve soil fertility, control soil erosion, and market their produce. The results: increased crop yields and profits.
Our Rotary Club of Halifax Northwest welcomes everyone to explore community service with us! We pride ourselves on being diverse and inclusive – and we’re friendly! Corporate members from the business community are welcome as well. If you want to know more or you would like to “kick the tires” to see if being a Rotarian might be a good “fit” for you, contact our Membership Chair, Roger Chiasson at rogerchiasson305@ gmail.com or 782 234 9408. Or pop in for one of our lunches. We meet every Tuesday from 1145 to 1 pm at Station Six restaurant at 247 Herring Cove Road in Spryfield.
Photos credit to: https://www.rotary.org/
