Projects
Projects
Rotary is a voluntary organization made up of 1.2 million business and professional leaders. About 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas launch projects that focus on current problems such as literacy, disease, hunger, poverty, lack of clean water and environmental issues.
Rotary’s flagship program is the polioplus vaccination program, which aims to eradicate polio from the world in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF and CDC. In addition to this, international youth exchange programs function as continuous service programs: camp exchange, family-to-family exchange (summer exchange) and Long-Term exchange. Rotary also participates in sudden relief needs, such as the earthquake disaster in Haiti or the typhoon disaster in the Philippines. To help Haiti, Finnish Rotarians collected 92,800 euros in one month, which were used to purchase Shelter Boxes. These “home in a box” products were already delivered to the disaster area during collection. Speed is important in such accidents.
Rotary Forest Park
Rovaniemi clubs (Rovaniemi Rotary Club and Santa Claus Rotary Club) collect funds to finance the above-mentioned projects by offering trees from the park forest to be redeemed for a price of 100 euros. Trees can be redeemed for yourself, your organization or as a gift, one or more at a time. Puistometsä is located in the Ounasjoki riverside scenery near Arktikum and Rovaniemi city center.
Revontulilaavu
The Rotary Clubs of Rovaniemi built together the Aurora Borealis wicket (Revontulilaavu) at the Rotary Forest Park during the summer and fall of 2021. The wicket, which is popular with the townspeople, won the 2022 Rovaniemi city center building award, but it was destroyed in the spring of 2022. Wicket was rebuilt in the fall of 2023. We have received support from several local companies and communities. Thanks to them!
Wicket is intended for the use of city residents and visitors. It is good to watch the northern lights over Ounasjoki in the evening darkness. The ski trail runs along the river, so there is now an excellent opportunity for hot chocolate and fried sausages. A small rest break while exercising on the riverside path is also possible. At the same time, you can exchange a few words with other wicket users.
It is not possible to reserve the wicket for private use. The city takes care of infrastructure and tree care.
Bookshelf
The Rotary Club of Rovaniemi has placed a bookshelf in the Sampo shopping center in Rovaniemi for the pleasure of reading lovers. Any visitor can take books with them. You can also donate books you don’t need to it for others to take away. 1-2 times a year we have an auction to get new books on the shelf. Our goal is that people learn to recycle books. They can still bring a lot of joy to another person. This also reduces the waste load.
Books that glorify violence, violate sexual decency or human dignity do not belong on this shelf and will be removed.
We especially hope for books about Lapland and in different languages. There is also a demand for children’s and youth books.
Rotary roulette
The Rovaniemi Rotary Clubs have jointly run Rotary Roulette at the Old Market in August for several years. The accumulated funds have been donated to charity activities by the Old Market. The funds are donated annually to local actors.
More information about Old Market can be found here:
http://www.rovaniemenwanhatmarkkinat.fi/
The Rotary Club of Rovaniemi turned 75 in 2021
The Rotary Club of Rovaniemi turned 75 in 2021. The event was celebrated on May 28, 2022 at Hotel Santa Claus with 30 guests. The Rovaniemi Music College duo and stand-up comedian Hannu Friman performed at the event. The celebratory speech was given by RI board member Virpi Honkala as a recorded video speech. The club received congratulations from future governor Arja Saarento, Jorma Winter of Tornio’s godfather club and Kemijärvi club. The video history of the club from 2007-2021 was presented at the event. The Rotary Club of Rovaniemi continues energetically towards the 80th anniversary celebrations that are coming soon!
