International Service

Rotary is a global organisation. Each club supports Rotary projects and charities worldwide. Rotary runs its own charity called the Rotary Foundation. In over 100 years, it has spent more than $4 billion helping people by improving health, education and the environment, and reducing poverty to create a better world.

Crocuses flowering outside Tonbridge School to mark the End Polio Now campaign

Rotary’s best known international project is End Polio Now. Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. Our club has organised various events over the years to support this effort.

Many clubs, including Tonbridge Rotary, have planted purple crocus corms in public areas which flower in the spring to mark the polio campaign. The colour matches the dye painted on the fingers of children to show they have been immunised.

The crocuses pictured were planted outside Ferox Hall opposite Tonbridge School and are shown flowering in Spring 2025

Twice a year the International Committee organises a Frugal Lunch where members pay the normal charge for their lunch but receive only soup, bread and cheese, with the surplus going to a charity. Each lunch raises over £600 and has enables us to support many different international charities.

Each year the International Committee organises a Quiz Night which takes place at Somerhill School. Teams enjoy a family friendly quiz and a splendid meal cooked by the school’s catering staff, and help to raise money for an international charity.

This year’s Quiz will take place on Saturday 16th May. BOOK THE DATE NOW!! If you would like more details, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Among the international charities we have been able to support over recent years are:

  • Shelter Box who provide emergency shelter and support for people who have been made homeless by disaster and conflict.

  • Operation Smile who provide world-class cleft palate care in more than 30 countries helped by thousands of highly skilled medical volunteers,

  • Global Sight Solutions is a non-profit organisation that works towards eradicating preventable blindness in the developing world.

A medical team from Global Sight Solutions charity carrying out eye operations at a clinic in Nigeria