More than half of Rotarians worldwide are serviced by one of the 31 RI regional magazines. These publications, produced independently by local Rotarians, have a combined circulation of 750,000 and are distributed in 127 countries in 24 languages.

Rotary Africa
Published in South Africa and serving 18 African countries

Helping to Feed a Nation
Although there has been media coverage about successful vegetable farming sustaining whole communities around South Africa, a lesser-known success story is in the Food Gardens Project, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Springs Park (District 9300). Led by past president Paul McLeod, together with the Education ad Social Services, Rotarians took a different approach in promoting the program, bringing it into the East Rand schools to benefit families of students. So far, the results have been spectacular.

Two plots, each 2 square meters, are allocated to a family. Free seeds are given to gardeners on the condition that the produce from one plot goes to the family and produce from the other is donated to a needy institution. The vegetable gardens are on school grounds, which has minimized theft.

The program provides ongoing work and income for previously unemployed parents, allows families to help renovate schools and buy equipment with their newfound income, teaches parents and students a useful occupation and entrepreneurship, and allows parents to pay school fees they previously couldn't afford. In addition surplus vegetables are distributed to homes for the aged, orphanages, and other institutions.

The District 9300 Vocational Committee is promoting this project. Several plots have also been established in Beqyudebhout Park, Johannesburg.

Rotary Norden
Serving Denmark, Fanrou Islands, Greenland Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland

Icelandic Rotarians follow in emigrants’ footsteps
Members of the Rotary Club of Hafnarfjordur, Iceland (District 1369), recently visited North America to take part in the festivities held by ethnic Icelandic communities in North Dakota, USA and Manitoba, Canada and to visit local Rotary Clubs.

In preparation for the tips, historian Jona Thor led a short seminar to familiarize Hafnarfjordur Rotarians with the history behind Icelandic emigration to North America, which began around 1850 and culminated toward the end of the 19th century.

The Rotary Club of Gimli, Man., Canada (District 5550), suggested a joint meeting with the Icelandic Rotarians, and the Rotary Club of Winnipeg welcomed participants to one of its regular meetings.

The Winnipeg club was the first Rotary Club chartered outside the United States, in 1912, which gives it the distinction of being the club that turned Rotary into an international organization.

Participants on both sides of the ocean agreed that the trip was a great success. The sheer joy of meeting older ethnic Icelands, who will speak their mother tongue and warmly welcomed the visitors from the old country, made the trip unforgettable. The journey also led to a successful exchange of information among Rotary clubs in Rotary Clubs in District 1369.

Colombia Rotaria
Serving Colombia

Anti drug campaign focuses on students
The Rotary Club of Tulua has increased its participation in a drug addiction prevention campaign aimed mainly ar the student population. First initiated in 1999 through the Municipal Department of Health, the effort consists of a series of conferences and workshops for students, teachers and parents.

In Tulua, similar programs were once used to divert funds, but the involvement of Rotarians has helped stop the corruption. The local municipal administration, headed by an honorary member of the club, is contemplating a way to increase Rotarian participation.

In 2001, the program covered a population of 1,1680 children, 600 parents and 100 teachers.


Philippine Rotary Magazine
Serving the Philippines

Better nutrition for expectant mothers
The Nutir Nanay project of the Rotary Club of Naha (District 3820) was recently launched at the Naga City Hospital. This joint effort of the club and the local government will attend and monitor the nutritional needs of 112 malnourished pregnant women in the city who are enrolled in the six-month program. Members of the Rotary Club of Naga together with their spouses who are in the medical profession, will sponsor or provide prenatal checkups and medical attention for women, while the local government will provide medicine, vitamins and food.

Naga City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo was present during the launch ceremony, along with past Naha president Tom Enrile, members of the club, and the staff of the Naga City Nutrition Council.