My wife and I spent much of the month of March in South Asia. Initially, we were conducting a Rotary Foundation Global Grant that my Rotary Club in the USA and the Rotary Club of Hong Kong Channel Islands were working on in Guwahati, Assam, India. At the same time, we've had numerous opportunities to meet with Rotarians and Rotaractors. While I learned various things during the trip, I’d like to focus on three key points related to economic development:
#1: There is a great deal of interest in developing RAGCED chapters in South Asia.
#2: There are numerous opportunities for partnerships between RAGCED and other organizations.
#3: Irrespective of where we live, we can help each other out, a key reason Rotary was created.
Let me now elaborate on each of these points.
Developing RAGCED Chapters
An important initiative for RAGCED during the current Rotary year is to establish chapters worldwide. The key benefit of a chapter is to permit Rotarians and Rotaractors in a particular area, or with a common language other than English, to connect with each other. Chapters have already been established in South India as well as the Philippines, and other chapters are presently being formed. We had an opportunity to meet with Rotarians, for example, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, who are very enthusiastic about creating a local chapter, and they’re now initiating the process.
Bringing Innovation into Community Economic Development
Community Economic Development (CED) is a crucial aspect of improving the socio-economic conditions of underprivileged areas. Incorporating innovation into CED practices can significantly enhance their effectiveness and sustainability. Here's how organizations and communities can integrate innovative strategies to foster economic development:
Introducing "IT Professionals" Rotary Fellowship By RAGCED
Statement of purpose: An IT Professionals Forum Rotary Fellowship is a group of Rotarians, Rotarian spouses, and Rotaractors who share a common interest in information technology and related fields. The purpose of having such a fellowship is to:
Going to the Singapore Convention? Interested in learning more about Community Economic Development projects that will impact your community or communities that you support? Need help planning, implementing, or evaluating a project? Want to make new friends that share your interests?
