District 7780 Clubs Support ARK – International Therapy Centre for Young People in Wojciechów, Poland
By: Dr. Carol Marcotte, Saco Bay Sunset RC
In the fall of 2023, District 7780 fostered international partnerships with Ukraine and Poland. During this time, the Rotary Club (RC) of Lublin Centrum and RC Saco Bay Sunset secured a District 7780 Disaster Grant to renovate a convent in Ukraine that sheltered 46 refugees. Now known as the Peace Shelter, it continues to provide refuge, with a plaque recognizing District 7780’s contributions.
Building on these connections and with the support of District 7780 and PDG Marion Cheney, a Poland Outreach Team traveled to Poland to explore various Rotary-led projects. One of these was ARK, formally known as the International Center for the Treatment of Mental Illness and Drug Addiction Among Young People.
Carol Madsen, Member Philippines Outreach Team, District Newsletter Editor, Bridgton-Lake Region RC
Our Philippines Outreach Team—PDG Dick Hall (Portland RC), AG Joanne Landry (Saco Bay RC), and PP Carol Madsen (Bridgton-Lake Region RC)—has had an extraordinary experience, thanks to the warm hospitality of Filipino Rotarians.
We arrived on Easter weekend, engaged with local clubs and organizations, and explored opportunities for collaboration. We met with an NGO focused on child protection, supported a Rotaract project providing essentials to Mountain People, and visited schools in need of infrastructure improvements. We also identified potential projects in clean water access and vocational training.
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