November 2025: Rotary Foundation Month

November is Rotary Foundation Month, a time when Rotarians worldwide celebrate the transformative impact of The Rotary Foundation. This month reminds us how the Foundation turns charitable gifts and dedicated service into meaningful projects that improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster international understanding.

The Rotary Foundation empowers Rotarians to tackle pressing global challenges, from promoting peace and fighting disease to providing clean water, improving sanitation, supporting education, and developing local economies. Its programs demonstrate the power of collective action and show how dedicated service and generous contributions can create lasting change in communities everywhere.

For the Chiang Mai International Rotary Club, this mission is reflected in our work with hill tribe communities in Northern Thailand. Our ongoing Global Grant in partnership with the Integrated Tribal Development Foundation (ITDF) continues to support water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives that improve health outcomes and promote sustainable practices in these communities.

Building on this work, we are very pleased to share that our recently approved WASH Global Grant, in partnership with our Rotary colleagues from Jeju Island, South Korea, will further expand these efforts. This grant will provide hygiene behaviour-change training, technical training, toilets, and safe water through gravity-fed systems with communal taps in Northern villages. These initiatives exemplify the global reach of Rotary service and the importance of international collaboration in achieving sustainable, positive impact.

Rotary Foundation Month is also an opportunity to reflect on how every Rotarian can contribute to this mission, whether through volunteering their time, sharing skills, or supporting projects financially. It is a month to celebrate service, inspire engagement, and reaffirm our commitment to improving lives both locally and globally.

As we recognize this month, we celebrate not only the global impact of the Foundation but also the tangible difference our club is making through partnerships, grants, and dedicated service. We are helping to create a healthier, more sustainable future for communities in Northern Thailand and beyond.