Page 8 - 2023年3月號

TRUSTEE CHAIR’S MESSAGE
A precious resource

inaccessible to many

Living in Australia, you think a lot about water. and sanitation for countless communities around
When you travel to the nation’s vast interior, the the globe. Foundation global grants have ranged
Outback, you can’t help but wonder how such an from providing toilets and hygiene education for
arid climate has supported life for millennia. There, villages in the Philippines to building infrastructure
each sip of water feels precious. for year-round access to safe, affordable drinking
Each sip seems to get more precious by the water in Brazil.
day as climate change continues to impact water The water and sanitation problems that we
supply everywhere. Where Juliet and I live, on face are too great for any of us to solve alone. But
the temperate coast not far from Melbourne, I whether we work with global grant partner districts
remember times not long ago when water supplies across the world or with large agencies such as
were so low that severe usage restrictions were put USAID, we are making a difference.
into place. We now live on rainwater that falls onto When thinking of teaming up to provide safe
our roof and is collected in a tank. In many parts of drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, remember
the world, people don’t have that luxury. that one of our greatest partners is right here within
Water is essential for life no matter where we the family of Rotary: Rotaract.
live. Yet many of us take it for granted. Think of Effective this Rotary year, Rotaract clubs may
all the times today you turned on the tap. About apply for global grants. I encourage Rotary and
1 in 4 people in the world have quite a different Rotaract clubs to work together on existing grants
experience when they do Ñ if they have a tap at and for Rotary clubs to support grants sponsored by
all. Today, 2 billion people lack access to safely Rotaract clubs. Together, Rotary and Rotaract clubs
managed drinking water, according to the United are going to take the power of the Foundation to a
Nations. It is heartbreaking that each year, about new level.
300,000 children under age 5 die from diarrheal The Rotary Foundation has more potential
diseases caused by poor sanitation, poor hygiene, than ever to make a difference in the water and
or unsafe drinking water Ñ all preventable sanitation challenges we all face, thanks to your
circumstances. generous support.
This is where Rotary comes in. Through your IAN H.S. RISELEY
support, The Rotary Foundation provides water
Foundation trustee chair
Illustration by Viktor Miller Gausa

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