There are four types of projects the club makes donations to - STUDENTS, the LOCAL COMMUNITY, INTERNATIONAL projects and at times a designated SPECIAL project.
Some projects attract extra funding from Rotary International, so larger projects can be undertaken. One such special project is POLIO PLUS which aims to eliminate polio. This in turn receives corporate donations including significant amounts from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Club selects projects that are worthwhile, likely to achieve their goals and are efficient. Rotarians and their Partners volunteer their services, so no salaries are paid and costs are kept to a minimum.
Since July 2019 the following donations have been made or are budgeted for –
STUDENTS - $5,000 donated to STUDENT projects -
Music Awards, Design and Creativity Awards, Operation Flinders, The National Youth Science Forum, The Adelaide East Education Centre, The Briars, Openlight, Calperum Station.
COMMUNITY - $12,000 donated to LOCAL COMMUNITY projects -
Australian Rotary Health, Rotary funding of Drought Relief, Rotary funding for Bushfire Relief, The Heart Foundation, Technology for Ageing & Disability, Music Therapy, Christmas Handbags, Second Chances SA, Habitat for Humanity, Jodie Lee Foundation, Uniting Care for Christmas Food Parcels, The Salvation Army, Variety SA Bash, Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Hospital.
INTERNATIONAL - $13,000 donated to INTERNATIONAL projects -
Shelterbox, Group Study Exchange, Solomon Islands, St Judes, Tanzania, Days for Girls, Training Midwives, Birthing Kits, ROMAC - 'Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children' , Polio Plus.
STUDENT PROJECTS
Music Awards – Held at the Marryatville High School - Students from eight of Adelaide's premier secondary schools displayed their musical talents and each received a cheque to assist them to develop their musical talents.
Design and Creativity Awards – Nine students from five schools showed projects they had completed, and the quality was magnificent. There was a flowery gown, an arcade machine, a wooden desk, a bicycle repair unit, a nutrition app, artwork and photography exhibits. Each student explained how the work was completed, the problems faced, and the learning and satisfaction gained.
Operation Flinders - Teams operate independently and trek more than 100 kms over eight days. Participants, who are young people at risk, are confronted with physical, emotional and psychological challenges in an isolated and unfamiliar environment. Activities undertaken include daily cross-country hikes, abseiling, team building activities, bush survival skills, navigation and first aid skills, and an understanding of Aboriginal culture and the history of the Flinders Ranges.
The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) is a not-for-profit organisation that runs a number of residential programs to encourage young people in their passion for science.
The Adelaide East Education Centre caters for the needs of secondary aged students with intellectual disabilities and other complex needs.
The Briars - for the purchase on an Interactive Whiteboard to be placed in a private classroom for some of the special needs students.
Openlight - Creates an environment where service groups can focus on achieving their community goals. They offer a variety of programs that inspire action and provide volunteers with real life experiences while strengthening their communities.
Calperum Station - Education programs about the local environment at Calperum Station in the Riverland.
LOCAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Australian Rotary Health – Supporting research into mental illness.
Rotary funding of Drought Relief Fund for Australian Farmers.
Rotary funding for Bushfire Relief.
The Heart Foundation is a not for profit organization and works in three main areas –
1. Prevention - educating the public on a healthy lifestyle to prevent & reduce heart disease.
2. Support and Care - a National help line with trained health professionals based in Adelaide and also provides a website and educational and literature material.
3. Research - funding comes from the public either through bequests, donations, fundraising etc. with the balance from Government funding and grants.
TADSA (Technology for Ageing & Disability SA Inc.) - Their Freedom Wheels program gives children the ability to escape the confines of their wheelchairs or the limitations of their crutches. The group modifies equipment to make it more suitable for clients.
Music Therapy Project providing headsets that play music for people living with dementia.
Christmas Handbags - for disadvantaged women - bags are packed with essential items and passed on to the Hutt Street centre for distribution.
Second Chances SA - A non-profit volunteer organisation committed to restoring hope in the lives of prisoners, their families and their communities across South Australia.
Habitat for Humanity Australia is part of Habitat for Humanity and it has helped build 170 homes in Australia. They don’t give hand-outs, rather they give people hand-ups by building homes in partnership with families in Australia and overseas.
Jodie Lee Foundation - empowering people to take active steps to prevent bowel cancer and live healthy lives.
Uniting Care for Christmas Food Parcels - To assist with the purchase of food items for their Christmas hampers.
The Salvation Army (The Salvos) runs a thrift shop, a ‘drop in’ centre and a weight loss group.
Variety SA Bash – The Bash is not a car race, rally or speed trial. The single most significant rule of the Bash is to relax and enjoy the Australian Outback and help raise funds for kids in need!
Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Hospital - They take in injured or orphaned wildlife with the aim of rehabilitation and release. They also participate in a wide variety of educational programs for students, carers, veterinary students and the public.
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
Shelterbox - providing emergency shelter and tools for families robbed of their homes by disaster, thereby transforming despair into hope.
GSE (Group Study Exchange) – organising, participating in and financing an international study tour for young South Australian professionals.
Solomon Islands - purchase and installation of rain water tanks, toilets and associated plumbing in a remote village.
St Judes, Tanzania – supporting the education of a student at the School of St Judes.
Days for Girls - In some countries, girls are put in isolation during their period have to sit on cardboard for several days each month, often going without food unless someone would bring it to them. Special feminine hygiene kits are assembled and distributed.
Training Midwives - the Australian College of Midwives is working with Rotary Clubs to improve maternal and newborn wellbeing in Papua New Guinea (PNG) through training in leadership.
Birthing Kits - These are a simple and effective tool for basic infection prevention and first-line childbirth care. Each component has been selected to support the 6 principles of cleanliness at birth for mothers, newborns, and birth attendants in high-risk and emergency settings.
ROMAC - ROMAC is the acronym for “Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children” and is a combined Australia and New Zealand Multi-district Rotary project. ROMAC has been in operation for over 30 years. ‘ROMAC provides surgical treatment for children in Australia and New Zealand from developing countries from our Pacific Region in the form of Life Giving and/or dignity restoring surgery not accessible to them in their home country’.
Polio Plus – A worldwide project of Rotary International.