Julie Mason......Rotary Foundation
Posted on Nov 08, 2016
PDG Julie Mason flanked by IPP Lawrence Reddaway and PAG Gabe Hau .
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Rotary Foundation started with $26.50 in 1917 and since then has provided aid worldwide in excess of $3 Billion. PDG Julie Mason and now District chair for Foundation's Vocational Training Team made a special visit to
our meeting to remind us of the nature and success of the Foundation. The Foundation commenced as a fund by which Rotary would pursue its humanitarian and community goals. Since its inception, this being the major charitable arm of Rotary International more than $3 billion has been distributed through the world.
Today Rotary Foundation might be thought of the "bank" from which individual Rotary clubs and there are 35,000 of them can exploit a single homegrown idea for a community project in Australia or overseas, research it, set aside/develop club funds , road test the project and then sustain and expand it with "bank"( Foundation) matching and support in continuing funding.
Foundation today operates with six major criteria in mind for a project.
- Peace and conflict prevention/ resolution
- Disease prevention and treatment
- Water and sanitation
- Maternal and child health
- Basic education and literacy
- Economic and community development
Julie told of her revelations of the need for help to Cambodia when visiting some rural settlements there a few years back and subsequent efforts by Rotary (from her own club and Foundation input) to improve in particular educational opportunities in addition to the provision of essential physical needs e.g. clean water supplies.
Her current Foundation role probably touches on all the above areas but overtly and directly on support to Peace Scholarships and professional and student exchange visits across countries.