Written by Let us help grow our local economies
For Rotary, October is Economic and Community Development Month. Or growing local economies for short, which is actually one of Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus. Rotary supports investments in people to create measurable, sustainable and long-term economic improvements in their lives and in communities where Rotarians either live, work or do business in.
The United Nation’s newly-adopted Sustainable Development Goals encourage us to focus on ending poverty, promoting gender equality, creating decent work and economic growth for all, and creating sustainable cities and communities. Rotary supports this initiative. So what comes to mind is as Rotarians, what can we do either individually or as a Club or a District? Here are a few tips:
- Have your Club adopt a barangay, elementary school, high school or health center
- Conduct a needs assessment of the community
- Based on the needs assessment, do your Club service projects in your adopted communities, preferably at least one service project in each of Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus
- Do your livelihood and vocational training projects in the community with the assistance of service partners like TESDA-accredited learning centers
- Buy local, both goods and services. This will help to keep money circulating within the community. This can also help to create jobsand support the local economy
- Be active in the community, attend local events, and build a network of service partners
- Volunteer in local projects and see how your Rotary Club can be of help
- Collaborate with the LGU, local partners and NGOs
- Advocate for economic policy reforms through your barangay and LGU officials using the local chamber of commerce and industry
- If resources are available, provide equipment or supplies to a cooperative to increase production and sales in the local market
- Encourage excellence. Nominate outstanding individuals for the Rotary Golden Wheel Awards and outstanding Rotarians for the Mario R. Nery Vocational Excellence Awards.
These are just some tips but I know that the opportunities out these are countless. Just have the heart to continue weaving the magic of Rotary in our communities to help grow local economies.