Rotary projects around the globe – September 2026
Learn how Rotary clubs are taking action in Mexico, the United States, Spain, Uganda, and Taiwan.
by Brad Webber
1 Sept 2026
Mexico
A chili cookoff organized by the Rotary Club of Mérida English in March raised more than $6,600 for youth services in the club’s Yucatán state community. Fourteen chefs vied for bragging rights, as determined by votes from more than 200 diners. The contest was held at the Casa de Amistad, the historic clubhouse of the Rotary Club of Mérida, of which Mérida English is a satellite club. The site was chosen “to bridge the gap between expat and Yucatán communities,” says club member David Keelan. The cookoff was held in collaboration with the Mérida English Library and the International Women’s Club. “When local clubs and libraries join forces, the result is more than just a meal,” Keelan says. “It is a sustainable investment in the city’s youth.”
United States
Each year, the Rotary clubs of Kissimmee and Bartow team up and host a popular clay shooting tournament to support outdoor recreational opportunities for wounded military veterans in Florida. The clubs, which have raised $417,000 since 2018, welcomed 250 attendees to their October 2025 event, says Kissimmee Club President Jean Cunningham. In March, the Rotarians donated $80,000 to Operation Outdoor Freedom, a Florida Forest Service program that serves about 6,500 veterans by organizing outings for them to go fishing, camping, and hunting for alligators, pythons, wild hogs, and turkeys. Eric Lee, a veteran who took part in the event, told the club that “some of the toughest moments” occur after returning home from deployment. “When the structure, the team, and the mission are suddenly gone,” said Lee, “Operation Outdoor Freedom steps in.”
1967
International Chili Society founded6,000
Annual tournaments held by the Amateur Trapshooting Association
Spain
Even on a bustling Mediterranean island like Ibiza, making human connections can be a challenge. Denise Klischan formed the Rotary E-Club of Ibiza International to supercharge inclusivity, networking, and philanthropy — often in tandem. “Most of our members live in Ibiza,” says Klischan. “Those who live abroad have a special link to Ibiza, usually because they have a holiday home here.” At the suggestion of member Deborah Sass, the club this year began hosting business networking events for Rotarians and nonmembers alike. And they keep striving for inclusivity. “We are an expressly LGBTQ+ open club and have single mothers who bring their children to meetings,” Klischan says. “We charge the lowest monthly fee possible to make Rotary affordable for everyone — and we have a lot of fun.”
Uganda
Health initiatives are a hallmark of the Rotary Club of Lake Bunyonyi. In April the club conducted a daylong medical clinic that served 772 people, most of them from rural outposts. “The outreach was aimed at improving access to healthcare, including general medical consultations, screening and testing, health education, counseling, and the treatment of common illnesses,” says Jean Tukamushaba, the club’s immediate past president. “Limited medical resources, financial constraints, and long distances to health facilities often prevent community members from seeking timely medical attention.” At the clinic, Rotarians, doctors, and other health workers teamed up with local leaders and Red Cross representatives. Tukamushaba says that demand was stronger than expected and future health initiatives will include more dental professionals and other specialists.
