Top 15 things Rotarians should know about global grants for vocational training

Rotary International News -- 8 June 2010

A microcredit recipient in Calcutta, India, makes pottery. Under the Future Vision Plan, global grants may be used to fund vocational training teams in one of the areas of focus, including economic and community development. Rotary Images/Alyce Henson

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Did you know that the new global grants offered under the Future Vision Plan can support vocational training teams? Here are some key concepts about how vocational training activities can work under The Rotary Foundation’s new grant model, which will be tested by 100 pilot districts beginning 1 July 2010. The plan will roll out for all districts in 2013. These ideas can get your club and district started as you develop vocational training opportunities.

1. Both clubs and districts can develop and apply for global grants to fund vocational training under the Future Vision Plan.

2. Clubs and districts are free to develop as many global grants for vocational training as they wish in a given Rotary year. Consider the number of trainings appropriate for your area.

3. Communities can provide inspiration. Clubs and districts are encouraged to pinpoint their community’s needs and strengths within an identified area of focus when developing vocational trainings with other clubs or districts.

4. Teams may either receive or provide training. Capacity building is key.

5. Either a single team or multiple teams may travel on a global grant. You determine the number of teams needed for each grant.

6. Each team may center training on a different area of focus , if more than one vocational training team is traveling on a grant.

7. A minimum of one Rotarian team leader and three non-Rotarian participants are required per team. There is no maximum team size. Develop your team according to the goals of your grant.

8. There are no age restrictions for participants. Instead, selection is based on expertise within the identified area of focus.

9. All participants on a single team must have careers linked to the goals of the grant , but they are not required to have the same professions.

10. Vocational training is an opportunity for Rotarian service. Rotarians may participate on vocational training teams that are providing training, if they have the needed skills.

11. Trainings may be developed for any time frame , depending on the scope of the training project.

12. Trainings may take place in a variety of settings , including universities, medical institutions, schools, companies, and community centers. Determine which setting is most appropriate for your training.

13. Teams may be hosted in a variety of places , such as Rotarians’ homes, university dormitories, and hotels. Determine what kind of hosting is most appropriate for your team.

14. Costs are flexible. There is no set, catalog cost associated with vocational trainings. Global grants must meet the US$30,000 minimum for total project cost, but this includes the expenses for the vocational training team as well as any other grant activities, such as humanitarian projects, scholarships, or additional teams.

15. A Rotary Foundation District Grant can be used to support a vocational training team that's more like a traditional Group Study Exchange. The vocational training exchange can be with any district (pilot or nonpilot), and teams are not required to train within one of the areas of focus.

For more information:

18 Comments:

At 8:55AM on 12 October 2012, Rtn Dr Vinaykumar Pai Raikar wrote: I am a Past GSE Leader and have benefitted a lot from this programme. GSE should continue. This is a wonderful programme aimed to establish World Understanding and Peace. VTT is more like Rotary Volunteer Programme and can simultaneously be introduced. Long Live GSE.

At 1:06PM on 23 February 2012, PDG Salim Najjar wrote: D6560 (Indiana, USA) is a Pilot District of the Future Vison Plan. As we were getting ready to begin implementation of FVP on July 1, 2010, we decided to participate in a VTT program. As incoming DG, I supported our district to have a medical team go to Uganda to help establish a pediatrict heart surgery program at the Uganda Heart Institute in Kampala. We assembled a team of 12 medical professionals consisting of surgeons, physicians, nurses and technicians for a VTT global grant. The Global Grant included DDF from D6560 and D9200 (Uganda); contrbutions from several clubs in D6560 and D9200; and funds from TRF. Within 2 months after the FVP began on July 1, 2010, we were making preparations for the team to travel to Uganda. I obtained the permission of the team and the Uganda Hospital to travel with the team and document the surgeries and training. I paid my own way and traveled with the VTT team. In the first part of October 2010, we were in Kampala for 10 days and conducted 11 pediatrict heart surgeries. I was allowed to video the surgeries and the training that took place during the surgeries which served as an opportunity to highlight the impact of VTT mission and the work of the Rotary Foundation. The experience was extraordinary in that: . The medical team took their own personal time to travel to Uganda. They volunteered their services and received no pay. .The global grant paid for the team's airfare, hotel and food while in Uganda, plus $2,500 per child to the hospital for its services. .All eleven surgeries were successful, and eleven children had a new lease on life. Incidentally, they are all now healthy growing children. How can you put a price on their families' happiness. . I was able to take the videos of the children and their surgeries and make presentations to over 45 clubs, district assmeblies, and a district conference to show the work of our Rotary Foundation. . As a result of my sharing this VTT story with my district Rotarians, they saw the value of TRF global grant VTT and as a result D6560 set a new record of giving to the TRF during my year as governor. . I am happy to share my VTT presentation with any club or district in the world.

At 3:43PM on 16 February 2012, Warren Carlson wrote: I recently was told our district 5020 and our partners in the Philippines were the only districts in all of Future Vision to have a VTT exchange. I am not surprised, as the hoops we had to jump through could never have been hurdled had we not had a retired lawyer devote nearly full time for weeks at a time to make it happen. Were there any other VTT exchanges other than ours. I'd like to be in contact any districts that also made it work.

At 12:33PM on 31 October 2011, Ashok Kumar Singh wrote: From an ordinary man on the street the GSE program made me a Rotarian on return , the club President which had sponsored me, and now the Governor Elect. This is the program which impacted my life the most. Outlooks changed and so did my attitude. Whatever I am today it is largely because of this program, which is sadly being ignored by the people who matter. Rotary used to be different from the rest because of the GSE.

At 10:02AM on 13 October 2011, Madhukar Malhotra wrote: Districts should have both options under the world grants, maybe shared on a 50:50 basis with district grants if funding constraints are seen. GSE program is unique and should continue...

At 10:01AM on 13 October 2011, PDG John Davis wrote: D9800 has been involved with the GSE program since its inception in 1965 and over those 46 years we have sent out and received 42 teams and the program has been a cornerstone of the promotion of TRF in our District.. We currently have a Global grant to send out 5 medical VTT's to Timor Leste. The vocational training teams should be to complement the GSE program not replace it as they serve different objectives, contrary to some comments the VTT does not and will not give the same Rotarian contact as the GSE program. A VTT can involve as little as 10 rotarians, while a GSE team can contact thousands of Rotarians and non rotarians via District Conferences, club visits and vocational and cultural opportunities. Unfortunately over the last 46 years some Rotary Districts have forgotten what the GSE program was designed for and have not developed a worthwhile itineary both culturally and vocationally for the inbound team and in some quarters this has led to a negative attitude to the GSE program.within TRF. Rather than scrap the program the conditions for hosting and sending out GSE teams should have been made more stringent. D9800 has two GSE like Teams this year to D3030 and D5230 and has confirmed a GSE like exchange with D1080 in the 2012-13 Rotary year. We will contine the GSE program at the high standards set for this program, however as most GSE -like teams after July 1 2013 will need to be funded by a combination of funds from the District's Block grant and the District's general funds the cost of sending out and receiving teams will most likely be restricted to strong financial districts.Our District will continue with GSE-like programs after 2013, and it is our strong recommendation that the program be still endorsed as a major program of TRF rather than an initiative of two participating Rotary Districts. District Foundation Chair D9800

At 9:30AM on 4 October 2011, Rick Bleier wrote: As a past GSE Team Leader and twice GSE Committee chair, I am saddened to see GSE end as we know it. I have watched as monovocational GSE teams fail to form because of lack of ability to get enough team members of a single vocation. In these instances the team was completed, but was multivocational. Under the new plan, it seems that forming the team would fail and not be sent. That would be a loss for both Districts involved and the Rotarians who would not benefit. I believe that both programs should continue side by side for 10 years. We will then see whether Districts choose the new system or stay with the current GSE. I see Future Visions as a plan for RI to drive the Clubs, rather than the Clubs driving RI. Smaller Districts will not be able to develop the grants that qualify in the new system and will end up funding other District's projects year after year. Future Visions is making me reconsider my commitment to the Foundation!

At 12:48PM on 3 August 2011, Yusuf Lanewala wrote: As a GSE team member more than 25 years ago, I am saddened to see the demise of this program. Personally I have benefited a great deal from this experience and have made many lasting relationships. I believe that the GSE program develops future Rotary leaders and would like to see the program continue. While VTT is a good program, I feel that the GSE should continue as it addresses another segment.

At 10:11AM on 19 October 2010, David Stocks wrote: Many of the comments in this thread seem to be based on a weak understanding of the VTT program. VTT is almost identical to GSE except that there is more emphasis on vocations and less on cultural tourism. VTT frees us from many of the restrictions of GSE while still contributing to: recruitment of new Rotarians; and international understanding. International understanding is enhanced because VTT is directed to dis-similar cultures. Bear in mind that the funds used for both GSE and VTT are charitable donations. In my opinion, GSE had drifted away from behaviour that would classify as charity work.

At 9:17AM on 18 October 2010, Carolyn Choate wrote: Greetings, all! As someone who was introduced to Rotary through the GSE experience some 20 yrs. ago, an experience that changed my life forever, I tend to agree with Jos Forbes above: "One of my biggest concerns is that VTT will be available only to a limited number of specialized applicants. A huge number of great ambassadors who helped in spreading the international message of peace, goodwill and understanding will be unable to apply." I was a young, ambitious advertising executive who had no clue about international service except a dim notion of Red Cross or Salvation Army. But the month I spent in the Philippines effected me so deeply that I re-prioritized my life. I became a passionate Rotarian as a result and continue to feel fulfillment through community service. Why "preach to the choir" when the world and the uninformed stand the most to gain? The accountants, the IT managers, the newspaper reporters. I hope those shaping policy will consider the concerns expressed here. - Carolyn Choate, NH

At 4:38PM on 12 October 2010, Terri McGraw wrote: Building Communities Bridging Continents Sound Humanitarian to All. As always Rotarians we are there to help. Exchanging visions,Helping those unfortunate children in Education,and help feed the hungry. The Laredo Rotary Club District 5930.

At 8:59AM on 19 August 2010, Jos Forbes wrote: As a recent GSE leader, I am very sorry to see the apparent demise of a great program that has done Rotary well for over 40 years. Apparently this decision was made with no input from regular Rotarians with GSE experience. There certainly could be great merit in the VTT program but why kill one great program to bring on a new one? One of my biggest concerns is that VTT will be available only to a limited number of specialized applicants. A huge number of great ambassadors who helped in spreading the international message of peace, goodwill and understanding will be unable to apply..

At 11:39AM on 2 August 2010, samar das RC Guildford Dist.1250 wrote: This is wonderful. Dist 1250 started Single Vocation GSE in 1999, followed by Dist.1140 in 2001 and by Dist.1090 in 2003. We trained 10 Eye surgeons in dist.3291 and installed Equipment e.g. Microscopes and Lasers etc. The Synergy of Training and Tools have been so successful that they are now seeing more than one hundred housands patients in the clinics and doing more than 10,000 major operations each year. They have even gone out to work in several other countries e.g. Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Madagasker. This year we are jointly sponsoring equipment for Nigeria and arranging training as well. With VTG we look forward to expand Rotary Service in many other places.

At 8:47AM on 2 July 2010, Bob Fenty wrote: We must do whatever we can to maintain the GSE program as is today, by expanding on the Vocational aspect, this would serve these new leaders well, we already have the Cultural and Rotary segments committed. This program opens doors, encourages dialoge, and will ultimitely bring about World Peace.

At 8:41AM on 2 July 2010, Brian Kennedy wrote: We had a VTT exchange with Turkey lined up but it wont now proceed. Looking for a Future Vision District to exchange with. District 9600..contact brianjkennedy@yahoo.com

At 10:05AM on 14 June 2010, Satyendra Pahariya Past GSE Team Leader (1999-2000) wrote: Conventional GSE program is better and serves an additional avenue of cultural exchange between two Districts. It helps in Bridging Continents. Vocational training exchange will narrow the objectives and defeat the concept of World Peace with better understanding.

At 10:07AM on 14 June 2010, Elizabeth Cox wrote: I really like this idea and very happy that Rotary has taken up the whole concept of capacity Building as this is very much needed to prepare the next geneation of Leaders. Would like to know how my club could tap into this area.- Rotary Club of Georgetown in District 7030

At 10:08AM on 14 June 2010, rtn. rasik bothara wrote: it is good to know

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