Eclub Success with Covid Grant.
See other images of presentation at Macquarie Uni.
On Thursday, 3 September, District Governor David Clark and representatives of the Rotary E-Club of Greater Sydney and the Rotary Club of Macquarie Park met with officials and international students of Macquarie University to recognise the delivery of a Rotary Foundation Covid-19 grant in the amount of $AUD 25,000 to assist international students in need. 
 
This grant from the Rotary Foundation is part of a larger grant to our District to assist local clubs in the response to the pandemic.  The Foundation has awarded over 200 grants to assist with the pandemic response to districts around the world.
 
The grant to Macquarie University is specifically targeted for international students who are experiencing financial difficulty due to the loss of income from part-time jobs and the lack of ongoing support from their families in their home countries due to the pandemic.  The University's Student Wellbeing Unit has assessed applications for support from students, and has reviewed financial documentation such as bank account information, employment status, and family information to determine which students will benefit from the grant.  Once satisfied with the need, the University sends an e-voucher to the student to provide $250 for the purchase of groceries.  We expect to assist approximately 100 students with the grants.
 
During the hand-over meeting, Rojal Lal Shrestha, President of the Nepalese Student Association, and Casandra Ecclesiastes, of the Indonesian Student Association (PPIA) explained the difficult circumstances of international students at the University, and expressed their thanks on behalf of their fellow students for this assistance from The Rotary Foundation.
 
Further opportunities to develop linkages with international students were explored with the students and university officials, such as mentoring programs and development opportunities through Rotaract and/or Rotary Clubs.
 
 
 
Presentation to Macquarie Uni students with Oscar, David, Lucian, Akin from the E-Club and Leo Driessen from Macquarie Park Club, with District Governor David Clark with Macquarie University officials, and some of the students who will benefit from our grant effort.
 
 
Past President Oscar addressing the meeting, with DG David Clark and Past President Lucian