International Service
Chairs: Steve Brown and Melanie Geschwind
Meets: First Wednesday of the month, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, at Hacienda Bldg. main entrance conference room, 12559 High Bluff Dr.
Meets: First Wednesday of the month, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, at Hacienda Bldg. main entrance conference room, 12559 High Bluff Dr.
(Date is subject to change. Members, please confirm with committee chair)
International Service is a channel developed by Rotarians to facilitate and promote international understanding, goodwill and peace. Following are examples of projects that our International Service Committee is proud to undertake to improve quality of life and enhance education around the world.
Click on the map for a larger view of some of the areas we serve around the world.
Afghanistan: One of LJGT’s longest-standing and most enduring partnerships
Rotary projects: Each year LJGT improves the quality of life in Jalalabad through projects with the Rotary Club of Jalalabad and other partner organizations on the ground there. ***CLICK HERE to view more photos.
Rotary projects: Each year LJGT improves the quality of life in Jalalabad through projects with the Rotary Club of Jalalabad and other partner organizations on the ground there. ***CLICK HERE to view more photos.
Jalalabad, Empowering Women (2021): The War in Afghanistan is never lasting and this caused many innocent people losing their family member. The numbers of widow families are increasing, the orphans start to begging on streets, and also the widow are forced to work for little wages to support their children financially.
The opening of this center will provide employment opportunities to many women and girls, by doing this, they are able to stand on their own feet, support a family, and educate their children and minimize poverty in the community.
In Mach 28, 2021 Afghan Youth Connect (AYC) IT Trainer Ms. Krishma Fada from one of our computer labs at Nazo Anna (Girls High School) and 4 more female IT trainers from different schools approached our in country director Mr. Abdul Qaum Almas and requested funding to establish a center to train few widows to design and sew traditional clothing. The total cost they requested was $1700.00.
In March 31st Rotarian Mrs. Jan Percival donated $1000.00 in the memory of her beloved husband and our chair of vocational committee service Ms. Nancy Gatschet and the members approved $700.00 to cover this small grant project and purchasing more sewing machines for the center.
In April 10th I invited Rotarian Mr. William Busch to train our trainers how to start a small business and he worked with them via Zoom on April 28, May 5th and May 19. Based on their report on May 4th they already received 30 new orders from Kabul city, and 20 new orders from Jalalabad city . They are working on their website, Instagram, Face book to advertise their designs. See their logo and business card below and ***CLICK HERE to see their Photo Album.
Jalalabad Female Sport Association project: ***CLICK HERE to view their photos.
San Diego~Jalalabad Sister Cities: One of San Diego's 16 Sister Cities organizations, SD~Jalalabad focuses primarily on educational and medical projects in partnership with Nangarhar University and its medical school. Other partners include the US Department of State and USAID.
Visit the LJGT Rotary Club Foundation page for more about Afghanistan Projects
Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)
Central Asian Countries (as well as Afghanistan and Iran) share the Aral Sea Basin. The LJGT Rotary Club has sponsored seminars and Master’s Degree level scholarships for young professionals from the Aral Sea Basin Countries to develop technical skills regarding water conflict and diplomacy.
Central Asian Countries (as well as Afghanistan and Iran) share the Aral Sea Basin. The LJGT Rotary Club has sponsored seminars and Master’s Degree level scholarships for young professionals from the Aral Sea Basin Countries to develop technical skills regarding water conflict and diplomacy.
The La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club takes the lead in arranging Rotary Scholarships for young professionals from countries sharing the Aral Sea Basin located in Central Asia. Visit this Rotary Voices article highlighting two of these Scholar Alumni.
India
SAKSHAM: Located in Central India, SAKSHAM Special School is based on philosophy that, "all children have the capability to learn" despite their special needs. Its mission is to develop children with disability, such as Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Mental Retardation and Deafness/Hearing Loss, to become independent and productive citizens. While providing medical, mental and physical rehabilitation at a minimal cost, SAKSHAM is a learning center for children that are not eligible for regular school. ***CLICK HERE to view the photo gallery of their work.Indonesia
Project Educare: Support leadership training project for students from rural areas, now at Campuchon College.
Project Educare: Support leadership training project for students from rural areas, now at Campuchon College.
Global Grant: Work in progress to create a prevention and treatment clinic for HIV/AIDS in Ubud, Bali.
Mexico: One of LJGT’s longest-standing and most enduring partnerships
Children's Hospital in Tijuana: Once each year a special project or purchase is selected to improve the quality of care to child patients served at the Tijuana Children’s Hospital. LJGT Rotarians are welcome to participate in ceremonies or work parties as they occur.
Children's Hospital in Tijuana: Once each year a special project or purchase is selected to improve the quality of care to child patients served at the Tijuana Children’s Hospital. LJGT Rotarians are welcome to participate in ceremonies or work parties as they occur.
Ensenada Escuela Primaria Centenario de la Revolucion: This school for grades 1-6 opened two years ago for a high population area in East Ensenada. The area houses low income families of which 192 children attend the school in year 2010/2011. La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club provided school supplies, sports equipment and restroom supplies for the children.
Ensenada 2022: The International Committee of LJGT provided $1,000 in financial support to purchase supplies for a center for disabled children in Ensenada. This was a joint project led by Ron Kohl, LJGT, with the Rotary Club of Ensenada Riverera which we have done projects with in the past. ***CLICK HERE to view their photo gallery.
Ensenada 2023: A wonderful La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club endeavor which included painting and sports court projects at an Ensenada elementary school. Early Saturday morning, 10/8/23, fifty-two San Diego Rotarians, Rotoracts and guests boarded a chartered coach to head for Ensenada to begin this project. Many children from the school, parents, teachers, and Ensenada and Tijuana Rotarians showed up to help. Our group brought over 100 donated stuffed toys that were given to the children which they greatly loved. To celebrate the completion of this project, we went to chateau Camou winery and had an incredible paella dinner provided by Ensenada Todos Santos Rotary Club. After a fun night, the coach brought everyone back on Sunday. This was a joint project led by Ron Kohl, with Jim Davies, Tony Grillo, Jim Frost and Gary Kachlovsky. ***CLICK HERE to view their photo gallery.
Mercy Hospital Surgical Teams:
Mercy Hospital Surgical Teams:
Our club has supported the Mercy Hospital Surgical Teams for over 25 years with funding for bi-annual trips to perform cleft lip and palate and congenital pediatric surgery throughout Mexico. Our former ISC Chairman, Dr Dennis Bucko, a now-retired Plastic Surgeon, has participated in most of these trips and provided the following photos of some children who have received the benefits of surgical treatment through this program. ***CLICK HERE to view their photo gallery.
Rosarito Lifeguard Project:
Rotary Club members Dr. Michael McQuary, Karla Prieto Morey and Past President Brett Morey joined others from San Diego Sister Cities to present checks to Alejandra Padilla, Mayor of Rosarito Baja Mexico funding the restoration project of several Lifeguard Stations. This International Service Committee project improves water safety for local residents of Rosarito as well as the hundreds of thousands of tourists who travel to the beaches of Rosarito annually. The $300 contribution on behalf of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle lead by Karla and Dr. Michael also provides an opportunity to invite fellow Rotarians down for the dedication of the restored Lifeguard towers. The towers increase water safety for all and prevent drownings. Thanks to Gaby Rincón Chief of Lifeguards for Rosarito Aarón Salvavidas was also on hand for the presentation. Just another example of how Rotary makes a difference in the lives of others and how we “Create Hope in the World.”
Rotary Club members Dr. Michael McQuary, Karla Prieto Morey and Past President Brett Morey joined others from San Diego Sister Cities to present checks to Alejandra Padilla, Mayor of Rosarito Baja Mexico funding the restoration project of several Lifeguard Stations. This International Service Committee project improves water safety for local residents of Rosarito as well as the hundreds of thousands of tourists who travel to the beaches of Rosarito annually. The $300 contribution on behalf of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle lead by Karla and Dr. Michael also provides an opportunity to invite fellow Rotarians down for the dedication of the restored Lifeguard towers. The towers increase water safety for all and prevent drownings. Thanks to Gaby Rincón Chief of Lifeguards for Rosarito Aarón Salvavidas was also on hand for the presentation. Just another example of how Rotary makes a difference in the lives of others and how we “Create Hope in the World.”
SD Zoo visit: Each year LJGT Rotarians host school children from Mexico for a day at the zoo, including lunch. ***CLICK HERE to view their photo gallery.
Tijuana Project:
Pakistan
Clean Drinking Water Filtration Plant: This is a district grant project involving a partnership with RC Pune Sports City, Pune, India (District 3131). The project will install a drinking water filtration plant for an underprivileged community in Jhang, Pakistan. The plant will produce 3,000 liters of drinkable water per hour. The purified water, stored in tanks for delivery will benefit 35,000-40,000 residents in the area. Door-to-door delivery of drinking water will be implemented (through a donkey cart system). ***CLICK HERE to view the photo gallery of this project
Philippines and Guatemala
Providing much-needed surgery to the poorest communities: Healthcare workers are brought in from America and conduct two weeks of surgery three times/year. Approximately 150 major and 150 minor procedures are completed each trip.
On February 11, 2023, Rotararians from Club Rotario Tijuana Agua Caliente (District 4100), students, parents, and faculty of Escuela Secundaria Num. 11 “Abelardo L. Rodriguez” welcomed Rotarians from La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club (District 5340) to celebrate the installation of a second computer lab together. The computer lab, which has 40 computers and 1 printer, will benefit 650 students per year.
Club Rotario Tijuana Agua Caliente has identified junior high schools in low-income communities that lack computer equipment. To resolve this issue, junior high schools were preselected to have a computer lab installed. To date Club Rotario Agua Caliente has installed 22 computer labs and reports that the project has been a huge success. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible. We look forward to our continued partnership to provide opportunities for the youth of Tijuana.
. ***CLICK HERE to view their photo gallery.Pakistan
Clean Drinking Water Filtration Plant: This is a district grant project involving a partnership with RC Pune Sports City, Pune, India (District 3131). The project will install a drinking water filtration plant for an underprivileged community in Jhang, Pakistan. The plant will produce 3,000 liters of drinkable water per hour. The purified water, stored in tanks for delivery will benefit 35,000-40,000 residents in the area. Door-to-door delivery of drinking water will be implemented (through a donkey cart system). ***CLICK HERE to view the photo gallery of this project
Philippines and Guatemala
Providing much-needed surgery to the poorest communities: Healthcare workers are brought in from America and conduct two weeks of surgery three times/year. Approximately 150 major and 150 minor procedures are completed each trip.
South Africa
Literacy Program: Pre-school reading club for the young children of Caro Hills, one of the poorest townships near Durban. The children will gather to read along with video instruction.
Literacy Program: Pre-school reading club for the young children of Caro Hills, one of the poorest townships near Durban. The children will gather to read along with video instruction.
Tanzania Project (2020)
UCSD International Café: International students at UCSD interact with LJGT Rotarians, and UCSD Rotaractors (and each other) once a year during this hosted lunch. USD Rotaract International Service: USD Rotaract students are mentored in International Service projects and activities by ISC members.
When we pulled our car into the middle of Tijuana’s migrant street camp, the call went out quickly: “Mujeres! Solamente Mujeres!” (Women! Only Women!) and within 45 minutes, we finished distributing over 1,200 sanitary pads to a long line of women and teenage girls.
The International Committee has funded sewing machines at a village school near Moshi, Tanzania so that more women and men could be trained as seamstresses and tailors. This helps the older students to have a trade when they graduate to be able to support themselves and a family.
Tibet
The Professional Scholarship Program: Established in 2008 to overcome the shortage of trained professionals in the medical and health-care fields. By contributing to a scholarship, one qualified Tibetan refugee now living in India or Nepal will be able to obtain professional education and then serve their community.
The Professional Scholarship Program: Established in 2008 to overcome the shortage of trained professionals in the medical and health-care fields. By contributing to a scholarship, one qualified Tibetan refugee now living in India or Nepal will be able to obtain professional education and then serve their community.
USA
Rotary Scholars, Kroc School of Peace Studies: Rotary Scholars enrolled in the MA program in Peace and Justice Studies at USD’s Kroc School of Peace Studies are either hosted by LJGT as a Host Club, or are sponsored to LJGT events or activities. Occasionally these funds are used for special purchases like a laptop that the Scholar can take home to his or her country of origin, or special training or travel within the US.
Rotary Scholars, Kroc School of Peace Studies: Rotary Scholars enrolled in the MA program in Peace and Justice Studies at USD’s Kroc School of Peace Studies are either hosted by LJGT as a Host Club, or are sponsored to LJGT events or activities. Occasionally these funds are used for special purchases like a laptop that the Scholar can take home to his or her country of origin, or special training or travel within the US.
Non-Rotary Scholars, Kroc School of Peace Studies: Students in the MA program in Peace and Justice Studies at USD’s Kroc School of Peace Studies are introduced to Rotary through District 5340 events and activities, including District Assembly, District Conference, Rotarians at Work Day and other venues. These funds cover the cost of and/or travel to events, where students interact with D5340 Rotarians.
UCSD International Café: International students at UCSD interact with LJGT Rotarians, and UCSD Rotaractors (and each other) once a year during this hosted lunch. USD Rotaract International Service: USD Rotaract students are mentored in International Service projects and activities by ISC members.
Pads On The Border: International Committee’s newest project comes to life during border visit on May 12. (Jan Percival and Fara Moini, from LJGT and Mc Kenna Avery, Rotoractor)
When we pulled our car into the middle of Tijuana’s migrant street camp, the call went out quickly: “Mujeres! Solamente Mujeres!” (Women! Only Women!) and within 45 minutes, we finished distributing over 1,200 sanitary pads to a long line of women and teenage girls.
These women and girls are among the 1,500 residents of the El Chaparral migrant camp, just a stone’s throw from the U.S. border. This unofficial – and unwanted – tent city materialized in February, shortly after President Biden’s inauguration. Fleeing violence at home in Central America, Haiti and Africa, these migrants refuse to leave as they wait for a chance to apply for asylum in the U.S.
We visited in order to help relieve the distress of women and teenage girls whose menstruation is a monthly nightmare. With no money to purchase pads and no privacy to wash and dry their underwear, it’s a barbaric and humiliating situation, with the potential to be a public health crisis.
Before heading back to San Diego, we made a second stop at the Templo Embajadores church located in the rugged Scorpion Canyon on the west side of Tijuana. This church-turned-shelter now houses an additional 500-600 asylum-seekers. We quickly distributed clean, new underwear to women and girls, in addition to Pedialyte purchased at Costco in Tijuana. Dehydration is taking a terrible toll on some of the children housed at Templo Embajadores.
We realize that long term solutions are beyond our short-term scope, but we are committed to helping NOW. With support from organizations like Rotary, we hope to continue our deliveries as long as there are women and teenage girls in these grievous circumstances.
Our recent visit was made possible by our alliance with Linda Carroll, co-founder of One Story at a Time, a non-profit that provides humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable people and sentient beings in Mexican border towns. Case manager Maria Lourdes Arias Trujillo (known as “Lulu”) was our guide and translator. A long-time humanitarian activist, Lulu’s compassionate familiarity among the migrants made our visit to the street camp, and shelter, feel non-invasive.