Rotarian Action Group for
Population and Development
Founded in 1996, the 20,000+
members of the Rotarian Action Group for Population and
Development (RFPD) work to address the population crisis around
the world. RFPD is dedicated to educating and motivating the 1.2
million Rotarians around the world about developing and
implementing projects that directly address the population
issue.
Rotary International’s
charitable arm, the Rotary Foundation (TRF), grants over $70
million dollars each year to Rotary sponsored projects around
the world. Within this framework, RFPD plays an important role
in developing, promoting, obtaining financial support and
coordinating projects that specifically address population and
development issues. RFPD serves as liaison between the local
Rotary Club applying for funds and the Rotary Foundation to
ensure that the proper paperwork is completed in a timely
manner.
We have established and will
continue to maintain a database of Population based projects.
All of our projects were developed to meet the standards
necessary to receive a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant. Since
the database’s inception in July of 2000, we have distributed
nearly $545,365 to 69 projects and 62 are pending approval and
funds disbursement for a total of $557,053. Our 3-H grant and
New Opportunity Grant List total over 1.75 million dollars.
RFPD keeps a list and the paperwork of Matching Grant
applications that have been developed by Rotary Clubs in
developing countries. These applications have all the budgets,
pro forma invoices, and the signatures needed from the
co-sponsor in the project country. Rotary Clubs who would
like to sponsor a project need to get a committee for the
project, their president’s signature and District Designated
Funds with the District Governor’s signature. World Community
Service Coordinators look to us a vital resource in helping
develop their club’s projects.
A number of Rotary population projects have already been
completed which provide direct benefit to less developed parts
of the world. Two exemplary Rotary projects conceived and
implemented by RFPD members are the Integrated Family Welfare
Centers (IFWP) in India and the Child Spacing Project in
Nigeria. The IFWP has served over 50,000 families by offering
them family planning and AIDS awareness training, vocational and
literacy centers as well as daycare for the women participating
in the programs. The Nigerian Child Spacing project is a 3-H
project that is also being funded by the David and Lucile
Packard Foundation. This 1.7 million dollar project seeks to
educate doctors, nurses and mid-wives on the benefits of child
spacing between children so that families can choose to have the
number of children that they can love and support. In the 8
years since the program’s inception, contraceptive use has gone
from just 3% in 1995 to an estimated 40% at the end of 2002.
Rotarians are encouraged speak
out on population and development issues and commit resources
and effort toward solving the population problem. In most
communities, Rotarians are seen as the leaders in all
professions and vacations, and as multipliers in society. When
sufficiently convinced of the merit of population advocacy,
Rotarians can be most effective in spreading the message to
their clubs and community with the use of a specially developed
CD power point presentation for Rotary clubs.
Six highly qualified and
dedicated leaders from the four corners of the world head RFPD:
Mr. Buck Lindsay of the United States, Professor Robert Zinser
of Germany, Dr. Hari Reddy of India, Ms. Rekha Shetty of India,
Mr. Salem Mashhour of Egypt and Dr. Emmanuel Adelodolapo
Lufadeju of Nigeria. Each has served in various leadership
roles in Rotary International and has a vast network of Rotary
contacts and resources.
Membership dues and donations as
well as grants from the Lucile Packard Foundation and other
community foundations currently fund RFPD.
Display of Booth:
We would use posters, pictures,
brochures, and videos to display our work.
If you would like more
information on RFPD, please contact:
Jennifer Hendrickson
Executive Director
Rotarian Action Group for
Population and Development
Lawrenceville, GA
PRID Eberhard's address to closing
banquet Population and Development in November of 2006
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