Photo: African Road Executive Director Kelly Bean shakes hands with Rotary President Jenipher Ingabire after presenting at the Virunga Rotary Club in Kigali, Rwanda.
African Road depends on the support and partnership of donors, foundations, organizations, and networks to raise funds for transformative projects in communities across East Africa. One of those networks is Rotary International.
What is Rotary International?
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million people — “neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers” — who are united in creating lasting change in communities across the globe. Their mission is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through their fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
African Road has engaged with Rotary clubs across the world, including District 5100 clubs near Portland, Oregon, the Gasabo Club in Kigali, Rwanda, and the Rwandan Virunga Club where the US Ambassador attends.
“I am so impressed with how Rotary functions both as a global and local entity, gathering powerful networks of community members across the world to solve problems and create meaningful and lasting change” says African Road Executive Director, Kelly Bean.
This cross-cultural model of operation makes Rotary an excellent partner for the work of African Road.
Impact of Cross-Cultural Partnerships
A solar-powered well provides clean water at Togetherness Youth Cooperative and its surrounding communities in Rwanda.
For example, a number of Rotary clubs in Oregon were instrumental in creating lasting change for the Togetherness Youth Cooperative and people in the surrounding community in rural Rwanda.
Richard Ares, Former Assistant District Governor of the district, traveled with African Road to visit Togetherness Cooperative in 2011. Following his trip, he led a successful Rotary fundraising campaign for a clean water well solar panel and pump to serve the youth of Togetherness and others in their region.
The project continues to be a huge success as, eight years later, the well provides fresh water for thousands of people in rural Rwanda.
Ares, who periodically provides updates to Rotarians to affirm the impact of their investment, says: “We are gratified to know that what we came together to accomplish is still benefiting the community in Rwanda today.”
Exciting Partnerships Ahead
Richard Ares, Former Assistant District Governor of the 5100 district in Oregon, led a successful Rotary fundraising campaign for a clean water well solar panel and pump to serve the kids of Togetherness and others in their region. The well continues to provide fresh water for thousands of people in rural Rwanda today.
On our July trip to Rwanda, we had the opportunity to present the launch of a high-impact campaign to the largest Rotary Club in Rwanda: the Virunga Club. This exciting soccer field and community development project we presented will promote unity building and girls empowerment at Togetherness and the surrounding region.
Additionally, we were able to create a collaborative partnership with another Rwandan Rotary Club. Rotarians from the Gasabo Club in Kigali signed a Memorandum of Understanding and agreement to stand as project sponsors. Sponsorship from a local club in Rwanda validates the project and provides a path for US Rotary Clubs to contribute to the project.
Eight years after his trip to Rwanda, Ares is still an active member of Rotary of Canby, Oregon and friend of African Road. He remains enthusiastic about the progress at Togetherness. Reflecting on the new soccer field project and the impact beyond its income-generating potential, Ares noted that the field empowers the community to “raise kids who know how to resolve conflicts, work together respectfully and cooperatively for a better future.” The project at Togetherness formalizes a space that will serve this purpose for generations to come. “It’s all about the kids,” he said. “They are our future in this world.”
African Road is grateful for individuals like Rich Ares and communities like the Rotary clubs across District 5100 and Kigali, Rwanda for partnering with African Road and Togetherness cooperative to bring lasting impact to build a better world.