Reflection by Wally Gardiner, RAGCED President
In the summer of 2004, as a new Rotarian from the High River Club, I was introduced to Steve Rickard—a man with an immense passion for fighting poverty. Soon after, the District 5360 Microcredit Task Force was launched with the goal of organizing a programme among the District’s clubs to raise one million dollars to combat global poverty.
Initially, most club members responded with “Good luck, gentlemen!” We explained that this would be a ten-year programme, with a realistic target of one hundred thousand dollars per year. Today, that programme is in Phase 8 (still in Honduras), and instead of one million dollars, it has provided more than USD 2.8 million to the poor, through small loans (USD 25 to 100), training initiatives, and strong support from local Rotary Clubs. Mission accomplished — and much more to come.
Today, RAGCED (the Community Economic Development Rotary Action Group) has grown from a small group of five people in District 5360 to a global organisation of 400+ members in 34 countries, with new Chapters in Latin America, India, and soon in parts of Africa.
RAGCED LATAM — led by Juliana Corredor of Colombia (President), José Antonio Gonzales of Mexico, Amalia Calderón of Ecuador, and myself (as Vice-President) — is working very hard in the fight against poverty. To quote our President:
“Unfortunately, the number of implemented projects is insufficient, especially in Latin America. Between 2019 and 2023, in Latin America (Zones 25A and 23B), 759 GG projects were implemented, of which only 60 focused on CED, representing only 8% of the FTR resources allocated to combat poverty. This problem, often referred to as ‘the other pandemic’ in the region, is the root cause of numerous social problems, such as gender-based violence, malnutrition, inequality, and disease.”
As members of RAGCED and CADRE, it is our responsibility to promote, encourage, and support clubs and districts in implementing projects that focus on poverty reduction through Community and Economic Development.
Let us keep fighting the battle — and, according to the UN, we are winning. With each project, each Rotary Club committee, member, governor, or Club President who works together, poverty is reduced, and local economies are strengthened.