The Rotary Club of Faringdon and District has been a steadfast advocate for education, recognising its power to transform lives and uplift communities. Over the years, the club has provided crucial funding for various educational projects targeting disadvantaged children in Nepal, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Zambia, and most recently, Kharkiv in Ukraine.
In Kharkiv, the Rotary Club of Faringdon and District has partnered with theKharkiv-Cit Rotary Club to address the urgent need for educational resources amid ongoing conflict. Together, they have raised funds to supply laptops to children, enabling them to study remotely and access online learning content. This initiative is vital in ensuring that the children’s education continues uninterrupted despite the challenging circumstances.
Oksana Shakhova,the Past President from the Rotary Club Kharkiv-City shared a poignant example of one family and how this project is making a difference.
“My husband died in November 2023, near Rabotino. He had been a volunteer since 2014 and fought in the DUK until 2019. At the beginning of the war, he joined Azov, even though he was already a combat veteran with awards and wounds. He was the commander of a mortar platoon. I have two children, my son is 15, my daughter is 12. He did not have time to adopt the children; officially, their biological father was killed in Bakhmut (he was a civilian)..I rent an apartment, started working ( and rented an office. The only payment I receive is for VPO. It is very difficult for me financially; I will be grateful for any help.”
This story underscores the profound impact of the Rotary’s efforts. The laptops/tablets funded by the Rotary Club of Faringdon and District will provide invaluable support to families like the one in the example above, allowing her children to continue their education during a time of great personal and collective hardship.
Beyond Ukraine, the club’s Rotary Partnership for Education (RP4E) initiative has made significant strides in other regions. In Nepal, they have supported the HORAC Children’s Home, sponsoring 30 children to pursue further education. In Sierra Leone and Ghana, the club has facilitated the construction of schools and provision of essential learning materials, empowering communities with the tools they need to build a better future.
The Rotary Club of Faringdon and District’s dedication to supporting education for disadvantaged children,and those orphaned by war, highlights our commitment to global humanitarian efforts. By providing access to education, we are helping to create opportunities and instill hope in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Our work is an example of the Rotary’s mission of “Service Above Self,” demonstrating the powerful impact that dedicated volunteers can have on the lives of others.
If you would like to help project like this please contact us, from a donation to becoming a full member, you are very welcome at RCFD.