Rotary International is an international service organization whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. It is a secular organization open to all persons regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, or political preference.
There are over 46,000 Rotary clubs worldwide, forming a global network of approximately 1.4 million members. These clubs are spread across more than 200 countries and geographical areas, all operating under the umbrella of Rotary International. The members of Rotary Clubs are known as Rotarians. Members usually meet weekly for breakfast, lunch or dinner, which is a social event as well as an opportunity to organize work on their service goals. Rotary's motto is "Service above Self!"
Rotary members are people of action who channel their commitment to service into six key areas of focus around the globe.
Today, 42 million people are displaced by armed conflict or persecution. Through partnerships with leading universities, Rotary Peace Fellows develop skills to strengthen peace efforts, train local leaders to prevent and mediate conflict, and support long-term peace building. We provide up to 100 peace fellowships per year at Rotary Peace Centers.
More than 100 million people are pushed into poverty each year because of medical costs. We aim to improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care in underdeveloped areas. Our members educate and mobilize communities to help prevent the spread of major diseases such as polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria.
More than 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. At least 3,000 children die each day from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe water. Our projects give communities the ability to develop and maintain sustainable water and sanitation systems.
At least 7 million children under the age of five die each year due to malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. We provide immunizations and antibiotics to babies, improve access to essential medical services, and support trained health care providers for mothers and their children.
Sixty-seven million children worldwide have no access to education and more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.
Nearly 1.4 billion employed people live on less than $1.25 a day. We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development and develop opportunities for decent and productive work. We help strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.