Rotary convention in Singapore opens with cultural events, global scope

Members highlight community projects and peace efforts

By Etelka Lehoczky

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The 2024 Rotary International Convention in Singapore began with a sweeping global vision, as international humanitarian Graça Machel and Rotary International President R. Gordon R. McInally called on people to take action to make the world more equitable and more peaceful.

Machel, the co-founder of the global leadership group The Elders, who is renowned for her work on behalf of women and children, urged attendees at the opening session of the convention to work for equality for women and equal access to education for girls.

“Why is it we still have millions and millions of children out of school? Why have we [not] recognized that it’s their fundamental right?” asked Machel, a former first lady of both Mozambique and South Africa who is currently deputy chair of The Elders. “The question now is, are we all prepared to take the challenge and say to ourselves, ‘We have to eradicate illiteracy, particularly for girls’?”

McInally called on the convention participants to promote peace through their work with Rotary.

“We are an example of what a better world could be: one where people find common ground across their divides and common purpose in elevating humanity,” McInally said. “Through our service projects, our humanitarian efforts, and our systematic approach to peacebuilding and conflict resolution, we can be catalysts for positive change in the world.”

McInally also spoke about his commitment to improving mental health and well-being around the world, a key initiative of his presidential term.

“We can fight the stigma against reaching out for help,” he said. “We can make a difference for the people we serve by investing in the tools, people, institutions, and systems that will ensure access to quality, affordable care.”

McInally’s focus on mental health was reflected in several of the convention’s breakout sessions, and Rotary’s other areas of focus were featured in a variety of projects and community events before the convention.

Rotary members highlighted local projects such as the nonprofit Football Plus program. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Singapore, the program teaches children from low-income families to play football.

“Every child learns that practicing will make them better every week, and they have a second family with their teammates,” said Tom Wolf, president-elect of the Rotary Club of Singapore. “They feel more self-confident and start to understand the value of learning.”

A local project that was launched before the convention was an expansive mangrove restoration effort. Rotary clubs in Singapore initiated the effort in partnership with the Singapore Institute of Technology and Singapore’s National Parks Board. The project will establish a mangrove conservation facility and plant mangroves in several locations around Singapore. Mangrove forests store more carbon than other forest types and protect coastal communities from intense storms and erosion.

Also before the convention, the Rotary ASEAN Peacebuilders Conference convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Rotary Action Group held World Water Summit 16. Experts and leaders from around the world addressed the summit. These included Jack Sim, founder and director of the World Toilet Organization, and Ann Thomas, senior water, sanitation, and hygiene adviser for UNICEF.

Learn more about the Rotary International Convention.

Watch videos from the convention

– May 2024