Unite for Good: A New Rotary Year of Service and Impact

July 1, 2025, Rotary Clubs around the world celebrate the beginning of another Rotary Year — and with it, a renewed commitment to unite for good. True to this year’s theme, “Unite for Good,” District 3790 launched the year with a powerful kick-off: a district-wide mission to uplift the youth through meaningful service, dubbed “𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐆 𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝟑𝟕𝟗𝟎 𝐒𝐀 𝐊𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐀𝐍.”

Our Club proudly joined this vision by launching PROJECT HARMONY at Puspus Elementary School, an upland community school in San Fernando City, La Union. This effort brought vital services straight to where they matter most — our children.

PROJECT HARMONY was more than an outreach; it was a united effort to care for the whole child — mind, body, and spirit. Pupils learned their basic rights through a Rights of a Child Symposium, discovered how to stay safe through a Dengue Prevention Drive, and gained life-long habits through Basic Handwashing and Dental Hygiene Lectures.

With the help of lecturers from our Club, the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC), and the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) La Union Chapter, learners saw firsthand the importance of proper hygiene and community health.

In partnership with PDA, La Union Chapter, we distributed Dental Kits and provided Basic Dental Prophylaxis — ensuring no child’s smile is left behind. Through the Little Doctors initiative, five students were trained and conferred as “Little Doctors” who will help monitor their classmates’ daily toothbrushing habits. This award-winning project, first introduced by PP Jhun Licos, empowers young leaders to instill healthy routines and build a habit of self-care that lasts.

Our Club also delivered school and office supplies to support the school’s mission of quality education. To reinforce what they learned, each child enjoyed a hearty meal — washing hands properly before eating and brushing teeth afterwards — a simple but powerful step toward healthier daily living. To support ongoing hygiene, we turned over soap dispensers and donated dental kits to the school.

Beyond one day of service, we made a promise of sustainability. This year, our District Grant Projects will fund the rehabilitation of toilet blocks and handwashing facilities and the rehabilitation of a Material Recovery Facility at Puspus Elementary School. These improvements ensure better sanitation, promote recycling at an early age, and provide a safer learning environment for every child.

All these were made possible through the strength of partnerships and shared purpose. We thank our cochampions in service: ITRMC, PDA La Union Chapter, Rotary Community Corps (RCC) of Puspus – Kired ti Daya, Puspus Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association, Hidalgo Estepa & Associates Law Offices, the Department of Education, and Barangay Puspus, San Fernando City, La Union.

Together, we proved that when we Unite for Good, we transform lives — one child, one family, one community at a time. As we begin this new Rotary Year, we move forward with hope and purpose, ready to light more paths and build more bridges of service wherever they are needed. This is the magic of Rotary — service above self, united for good.

Written and Submitted by: 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖. 𝗚𝗼