Nearly 800 million people live on less than $1.90 per day. Rotary members are passionate about providing sustainable solutions to poverty. Our members and our foundation work together to strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women in impoverished communities.
In Guatemala, most women living in rural communities do not have the collateral to get loans from regulated financial institutions. The Rotary Club of Guatemala de la Ermita helped 400 local women complete financial literacy courses so they could pool their money and fund their own micro-lending program. In Esmeraldas, Ecuador, Rotary members helped grant more than 250 microloans and train more than 270 community members in sewing, baking, plumbing, microcredit, business management and leadership. And in West Cameroon, soil erosion and loss of soil fertility have significantly reduced farmers' harvest. Rotary members gave farmers the skills they needed to improve soil fertility, control soil erosion, and market their produce. The results increased crop yields and profits.
The Rotary Foundation has spent $9.2 million to grow economies and reduce poverty last year. Your donation to the foundation allows this to happen. Thank you.
