According to the United Nations, global unemployment increased from 170 million people in 2007 to nearly 202 million in 2012, about 75 million of whom were young women and young men. Nearly 2.2 billion people live below the poverty line of $2 per day, and the world needs 30 million new jobs every year to keep up with the growth of the global working-age population. During October, Rotary Economic and Community Development Month, take action within your communities to address root causes of poverty: unemployment, underemployment, lack of economic opportunity, lack of appropriate training, and the absence of social safety nets. Read on for ideas to help grow local economies. It is a great opportunity to leverage your vocational skills to help meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 8: promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all. Read on for ideas on how to empower members of your community.
Generate income and savings
- Partner with a local microlender to improve access to financial services and provide financial infrastructure in a community.
- Offer training on mobile banking resources. Mobile phones, which can be used to make deposits and transfer funds, can increase access to banking systems in developing communities.
Empower members of your community through jobs and entrepreneurship
- Provide training in skills and leadership for young people and women.
- Host an event for business networking and professional development.
- Send a vocational training team to teach business leaders in developing communities how to create a business plan and maintain accurate financial accounting.
Support economic and community development projects on Rotary Ideas and join a Rotary discussion group to share your expertise with fellow members. Check out Rotary Showcase for projects that other Rotary members have taken on to grow their local economies and communities!
Enhance your economic and community development projects
Every community has different needs and different opportunities to serve. The Rotary guide Economic and Community Development Project Strategies aims to help clubs and districts ask the right questions, identify needs, and make the greatest possible impact with available time, energy, and resources. Download the guide, and take your projects to the next level.