KNYSNA NEWS - A project by the Rotary Club of Knysna recently put local effort on the global stage at a gathering of Rotary International leaders in Orlando, USA.
Each January, Rotary hosts the International Assembly, bringing together more than 500 incoming district governors from around the world.
Among those attending this year's event was Anton Lubbe, District 9350 governor-elect from the Helderberg Sunrise Rotary Club.
Lubbe shared screenshots from an address by 2026-27 Rotary International president-elect Olayinka Babalola, which featured images of the Knysna club's Global Grant project in partnership with the Knysna Education Trust (Ket). The initiative aimed to provide all children in Knysna access to quality early childhood development (ECD) services by 2025.
Lubbe was followed by Babalola, who reflected on Rotary's transformative impact on his life, describing how a literacy project during his youth inspired his commitment to expanding access to education.
He emphasised the urgency of addressing global education challenges, citing estimates from Unicef that millions of children worldwide could be forced out of school due to cuts in education funding.
Babalola highlighted the Knysna project as a model of community-driven change.
Launched in 2019, the initiative brought together local partners and community members to identify barriers to early child-hood education and develop sustainable solutions.
The project has empowered women in underserved communities to establish and manage early childhood education centres, reaching thousands of children and families while creating long-term benefits for future generations.
He encouraged Rotary clubs worldwide to replicate similar initiatives, noting that such efforts help build trust and recognition within the communities they serve.
President of the Rotary Club of Knysna, Murro-Wayne Spies, welcomed the international acknowledgement: "It is an honour to receive recognition from the worldwide Rotary community and a privilege to partner with the ever-professional Knysna Education Trust. We are deeply grateful to have played a role in helping ensure that all children in Knysna have access to quality ECD services."
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