Barry Rassin
President 2018-19
April 2019
Every two minutes, somewhere in the world, a woman dies from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. And babies whose mothers die within the first six weeks of their lives are far more likely to die themselves than babies whose mothers survive. As I've traveled around the world as president of Rotary, I've met families for whom these aren't simply tragic statistics. But I've also met people who are devoting themselves to helping mothers and children — and because of them, I'm hopeful. And because many of those people are Rotarians, I'm also proud. April is Maternal and Child Health Month in Rotary, so it's a perfect time to tell you about some things Rotarians are doing that will make you proud too.
Conflict and violence displaced more than 68 million people in the past year, and half of those are children.
We refuse to accept conflict as a way of life. Rotary projects provide training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflicts.
HOW ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN
Through our service projects, peace fellowships, and scholarships, our members are taking action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.
- 100 peace fellowships are offered each year at Rotary Peace Centers around the world
- 65 mil people are currently displaced by armed conflict or persecution
- $142 mil has been raised by Rotary to support peace
- 1,000+ students have graduated from Rotary’s Peace Centers program
