Under this service category Rotarians strive for the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service. International Service Projects are designed to meet the humanitarian needs of people in many lands, with particular emphasis on the most underprivileged children and families in developing countries.

International Service Chair: 

Rotary Youth Exchange

A Rotary Youth Exchange student will spend up to a year living with a few host families and attending school in a different country. Whether they participate in Rotary’s long-term or short-term Youth Exchange programs, they'll learn a new way of living, a great deal about themselves and maybe even a new language. They’ll also be an ambassador, teaching people they meet about their country, culture, and ideas. They can help bring the world closer – and make some good friends in the process.

This year we are fortunate to have Elisabeth Sejbak from Denmark visiting us.  He will be staying with fellow Sunrise Rotarians Tim and Kathi Sharp for her first semester and Ed and Lori Rowan for her second semester.  We look forward to meeting her and attached is some background on Elisabeth.  For more information contact our Youth Exchange Officer: Past President Tim Sharp.

Group Study Exchange

Through the Group Study Exchange program, a team of 1 Rotarian and 4 non-Rotarians (age 25-40) visit another country for a one month period. Through this cultural exchange trip, the team will stay in Rotarian homes, give talks to local and other sites of interest in the host country and generally act as "ambassadors". A team from the host country will then visit our area with out Rotary District 6930 acting as hosts. Click on the following for more information about the 2009 Group Study Exchange program to Brazil. For more information contact our Project Chair: Past President Ed Rowan

Vietnam Compassion Home

Adequate housing for many families in Vietnam is regretfully substandard. The very poorest oftentimes live in truly deplorable conditions. It is not uncommon for houses to have tarps stretched around bamboo poles serving as walls and thatch serving as roofs. Floors are commonly bare earth. Toilets and proper cooking facilitates are considered luxuries. Not only are these houses unpleasant places in which to live they can actually constitute health hazards.

Although houses can be built for comparatively little in Vietnam they are beyond the reach of many families. A brick and plaster home can be built for about $1,500. These houses have sturdy roofs, concrete floors, kitchens and toilets.

The families the Sunrise Club helped included a 74 year old grandmother, her daughter and 7 year old granddaughter and a farm worker, his wife and young son. For more information see our News Article or contact our Project Chair: Past President Tim Sharp.  

Ambala General Hospital and Cancer Center

The "Ambala General Hospital and Cencer Center" is being set up with the help of the Rotary Club of Ambala (RI District 3080) in Ambala, in the state of Haryana, India. A well equipped library and conference room will be set up by the Rotary Club and be manned by cancer specialists and cancer survivors to educate people about cancer and how to prevent it with regards to diet and regular check ups. Cancer awareness is non existent among the less fortunate. Chewing tobacco and smoking are major causes of this disease. Breast cancer is on the increase and is unfortunately detected far too late in most cases to help the patient.

Education and awareness is the key to making progress and the Rotarians from Ambala are dedicating their time and energies to make this a vibrant center. This project was initiated first under the Presidency of Debbie Maners and the Ambala Rotary Club sends their deepest condolences to our Club and her family, and realizes how important this project is as part of her legacy. The latest update on this exciting Rotary project can be found at the following link. For more information contact our Project Chair: Past President Kris Sudan

Bosnia Orphanage

In partnership with the Rotary Club of Tuzla, Bosnia we are establishing a Mother and Baby Unit at the Tuzla Orphanage. Due to poverty, unemployment, teenage pregnancy, and the government failure to provide minimum funding for the care of children, many children are abandoned. Our program will keep teenage mothers and their newborn babies together, creating a bond that reduces the number of abandoned children and future orphans. Together we will furnish rooms for 8-10 mothers, provide education, food, fuel, toys and auxiliary supplies. For more information contact our Project Chair: President Elect Zee Aganovic

Ethiopia School

A 1996 United Nations publication stated that the general primary school enrollment rate in Ethiopia was only 22%. The situation at Entoto in the outskirts of Addis Ababa, the capital city, is no better. A large number of children were without any possibility of obtaining any education because there were no schools in the area.

Recognizing the great need, a school was started at Entoto in September of 1999 and has been operating successfully ever since offering elementary education from pre-school to third grade. At present approximately 160 children who have no other educational opportunity are attending the school full time. In addition, evening literacy classes for adults are being offered. The school has been operating with the help of the community members and Ethiopians who live abroad and now Rotarians.

In 2003, the Rotary Club of Boca Raton Sunrise decided to add the school to the list of its international projects and the club has raised a total of $3,425. The district has committed to contributing $6,000. In addition friends outside the club have contributed a total of $1,450. At present, a matching grant application is being considered by Rotary International and we have been alerted this has been approved. The goal of the supporters of the school has been to strengthen the school's future and to enlarge it by adding classes up to the eighth grade. For more information contact our Project Chair:

India Pavement Club Project

The Pavement Club is designed to cater to the varied needs of the pavement children, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. The Pavement Childrens’ Elementary School which was started in 1991 imparts non-formal education to the children. The school provides general education relevant for the street children with computer classes, cooking classes, sewing classes, art and crafts etc. The children are encouraged to attend classes, do their home-work and also be able to attend to other main school requirements. Song, dance, and music make up another chapter of education. For more information contact our Project Chair: Past President Kris Sudan

For more information on the Avenue of International Service visit the Rotary International Web Site.

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