"The United Nations was not created to take humanity to heaven — it was created to save us from hell" – Melissa Flemming UN

That truth echoed throughout our recent time on the global stage, where WASH-RAG Ambassadors and Rotary leaders gathered, hosted a booth, engaged in meaningful conversations, and welcomed several new Ambassadors into the movement. What became abundantly clear is this: the world’s challenges are not abstract concepts debated in conference rooms — they are lived realities in communities everywhere. And Rotary stands uniquely positioned at the intersection of vision and action.

WASH-RAG Ambassadors Richard Chinn (D5150) and Ciera Martin (D5220) hosted a booth that became a hub for meaningful dialogue around water, sanitation, hygiene, and community-driven solutions. We connected with Rotarians, Interact Reps, development professionals, and partners from around the world — and welcomed several new WASH-RAG Ambassadors committed to advancing water partnerships at the local and global level.

We were especially encouraged by the visit and engagement of Rotary International President Francesco Arreza, who stopped by the WASH-RAG booth to learn more about current WASH initiatives and engage in thoughtful conversation about Rotary’s critical role in advancing water security, public health, and sustainable development. The President’s visible support reinforced that WASH remains central to Rotary’s mission and impact.

Today, all 193 UN member states have recommitted to accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since 1990, global efforts have lifted 1.5 billion people out of extreme poverty, expanded access to electricity to 92% of the world’s population, reduced child and maternal mortality, increased girls’ access to education, and made significant progress against HIV. These gains are deeply connected to improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Yet only 27% of SDG targets are currently on track to be achieved by 2030. Complex challenges like water scarcity, climate change, and global health emergencies cannot be solved by governments alone. Rotary fills critical gaps by convening multilevel partnerships — bringing together civil society, the private sector, and community leaders to design solutions with communities, not for them.

As Rotarians and WASH advocates, we carry forward a legacy rooted in action. The promise of clean water, dignity, and peace demands partnership, persistence, and leadership. No nation can do this alone — and Rotary was never meant to.

 

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On internationally recognized days dedicated to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, such as World Toilet Day and World Water Day, the eClub of WASH is hosting virtual screenings of films that highlight ongoing issues in this sector.

World Water Day is Sunday, 22 March 2026, and the eClub of WASH will be screening virtually the award-winning documentary - "FLOW: For Love of Water." The film explores how politics, pollution, and corporations are impacting the world's water crisis. Beyond identifying the problems, FLOW provides practical solutions to the issue. 

The film will be officially shown on a high-quality custom video link on 22 March 2026 - 2 pm Eastern  / 6 pm UTC. The film runs 90 minutes. (NOTE: the video link will be available for viewing for a 24-hour period, to allow viewing throughout all time zones.) 

After the movie and a short break, viewers are invited to join a Zoom call starting at 4 pm Eastern / 8 pm UTC for a Question-and-Answer session to discuss the film and the water crisis. This session will be recorded and posted to the eClub of WASH Vimeo site.

Tickets are $10 to attend the movie screening and Q&A. Purchase tickets here https://givebutter.com/FLOW_For_Love_of_Water 
 

Joining the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Rotary Action Group (WASH-RAG) empowers Rotarians, Rotaractors, and professionals with expert guidance, global partnerships, and practical resources to deliver sustainable, high-impact WASH projects. From strengthening Global Grant success and funding opportunities to improving long-term community health, education, and safety, WASH-RAG helps members move beyond infrastructure to lasting change. Read the full article to learn how WASH-RAG can amplify your impact worldwide.

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