Growing Local Economies
Nearly 800 million people live on less than $1.90 a day. Rotary members are passionate about providing sustainable solutions to poverty.
Our members and our foundation work to strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities. We provide training and access to well-paying jobs and financial management institutions.
How Rotary makes help happen
We create opportunities to help individuals and communities thrive financially and socially.
$9.2Million
The amount The Rotary Foundation has spent to grow local economies and reduce poverty last year
795 Million
people — 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
Our Impact On Local Economies
Rotary members train people to become resources for their community, offering networking activities, advice on new business development, and mathematics and financial management training.
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.