Keur Birane: The Entrepreneurs on the Rise Reporting from an International Service Committee Funded Project
Aida Gueye, one of our project participants said this initiative has transformed her lifestyle from seasonal subsistence to year-round self-sufficiency and financial stability. She had been experiencing chronic respiratory problems and eye irritation while relying heavily on firewood to reduce costs, however, after adopting improved cookstoves, her symptoms of eye irritation significantly improved. The vegetable gardening and poultry programs provided her family a nutrient-rich diet of fresh produce and protein. She has been saving money for the first time through the VSLA program and investing in small business to earn steady income. She
expressed, this change is not only a technical change, but a change towards a safer, cleaner home environment and fostered a sense of community unity and economic independence that did not exist before.
“This project has had a very positive impact on my life, my family, and my community, in terms of economic, environmental, health, and nutritional benefits.” -Aida Gueye, Keur Birane
This change is brought to her life through the support of Rotary Club and Aida and the Keur Birane women thank them sincerely for being a changemaker. Beyond just the practical improvements, you’ve given people a real sense of hope and brought everyone closer together leaving a legacy of unity for years to come. The community appreciates their partnership with the Bellevue Rotary Club in Washington, USA, and the Rotary Club Dakar Millénium in Senegal while successfully starting its third year in January 2026 and finishing the first quarter in March 2026.
Thanks to the Rotary Clubs for their kindness and big-picture thinking.
For Seattle #4 President, John Steckler’s first meeting Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson came to the podium for a conversation about her first six months on the job, including the work her office has done about the city’s homeless crisis, public safety, and affordability.
Mayor Wilson was in conversation with Seattle #4 Program Chair, Andrew Lewis who introduced her as the 58th Mayor of Seattle following a decade long work as lobbyist for transit access, affordability, and homeless work. “We opened the first shelter site in June with more to come as we view the increase in homeless as an opportunity,” she began. “We are forging productive and positive relationships with service providers and the private sector including Microsoft and Starbuck’s.”
She spoke directly about improving public safety, from increasing patrols to engaging neighborhoods in grassroots crime-prevention efforts. On surveillance cameras, she said her team is conducting due diligence to understand how they are being used. “The cameras are a useful tool for solving crimes, but we want to ensure accountability and justice,” she said. Cameras remain in high-crime areas along Aurora Avenue North and in Little Saigon, while stadium cameras stayed on during the World Cup after law enforcement cited credible threats and have since been turned off.
She said the city is auditing camera use to evaluate last year’s pilot program, which placed cameras on city streets. “We want a better public discussion about cameras, crime prevention, privacy concerns, and whether ICE would have access,” she said.
Monday, July 20th 5:30-7:00 PM YRL-Hosted Social Offices of Carney Badley and Spellman (Columbia Tower)
The purpose of this gathering is to continue building community and a sense of belonging among members of our service club. We’ll spend time discussing the types of service and social events members would be interested in and excited to be part of moving forward.
This event is open to everyone, not just members of the Young Rotarians. We’d love to have you join us!
Parking in the Columbia Tower garage is $10 after 5 PM! We ask that you please check-in with security before coming up to the 36th floor. Please RSVP HERE no later than Friday, July 17th so that your name can be given to security for a seamless check-in process.
Join Us at Rising Star Elementary This Summer
School Connect Washington needs you. One of our six SRSF Local Service Committee grantees this year, School Connect is running the largest summer program of its kind in Seattle Public Schools: 140 students at Rising Star Elementary on Beacon Hill, and they could use Rotarians in the room.
In an effort to better inform membership of the health of the club, we will start posting member additions and resignations after each month's club board meeting. Please see below for our June/July report.
New Member: Helary Rakete-Yakub
Resignations: Irv Sandman, Lillian Sherman, Max Martina, Mike O'Byrne, Ev Billingslea, Jeff Pyatt, Brenda Barnes, Lindsay Klarman, Rajeev Agarwal, Fred Grimm, Bindiya Patel, Cathy Gibson, Dulcie Patner, Maureen Brotherton
We love to see our Rotary members promoting good works in our community and abroad! If you have a project or fundraiser that you are excited about and would like to promote to your fellow club members, please check in with our Club Director, Mary Goldie, before distributing information or invitations through our email roster. We value the privacy of our members’ contact information and can let you know the appropriate ways to reach out to folks in our club. Thank you!!
School Connect Washington needs you. One of our six SRSF Local Service Committee grantees this year, School Connect is running the largest summer program of its kind in Seattle Public Schools: 140 students at Rising Star Elementary on Beacon Hill, and they could use Rotarians in the room.
Serves to fulfill Rotary's mission of "advancing international understanding, goodwill, and peace." The committee selects projects that positively impact the health, education, and welfare of less advantaged people in other countries, with a particular emphasis on youth. Actively works with clubs in our District and abroad to leverage — via matching grants — the amount of money available for a project. Members get involved through direct knowledge of the project or by volunteering. Prior focuses have included malaria projects in Zambia, Tanzania, and Uganda; microcredit and water projects in India; de-mining projects in Vietnam and Lebanon; AIDS orphan support in South Africa and Ethiopia; education/literacy projects in Nepal, Chile, and Hungary; and more than a decade of wide-ranging projects in Russia.
For more information on this committee, please email info@seattlerotary.org.
The purpose of this gathering is to continue building community and a sense of belonging among members of our service club. We’ll spend time discussing the types of service and social events members would be interested in and excited to be part of moving forward.
This event is open to everyone, not just members of the Young Rotarians. We’d love to have you join us!
Parking in the Columbia Tower garage is $10 after 5 PM! We ask that you please check-in with security before coming up to the 36th floor. Please no later than Friday, July 17th so that your name can be given to security for a seamless check-in process.
Serves to fulfill Rotary's mission of "advancing international understanding, goodwill, and peace." The committee selects projects that positively impact the health, education, and welfare of less advantaged people in other countries, with a particular emphasis on youth. Actively works with clubs in our District and abroad to leverage — via matching grants — the amount of money available for a project. Members get involved through direct knowledge of the project or by volunteering. Prior focuses have included malaria projects in Zambia, Tanzania, and Uganda; microcredit and water projects in India; de-mining projects in Vietnam and Lebanon; AIDS orphan support in South Africa and Ethiopia; education/literacy projects in Nepal, Chile, and Hungary; and more than a decade of wide-ranging projects in Russia.
For more information on this committee, please email info@seattlerotary.org.
Meet fellow Rotarians and get involved in service. See below for a list of committees. Email the committee chair by clicking on their name. Or, contact Mary Goldie for more information.
4. Invite your connections to a weekly meeting, and let mary@seattlerotary.org know so they may be introduced.
If you don't already have a LinkedIn profile, CLICK HERE to learn how to get started.
SEATTLE 4 ROTARY AUDIO VISUAL SPONSORS
Video of Seattle 4 Rotary Programs are available online thanks to the generous support of our Seattle Rotary Audio Visual Sponsors.
In addition to supporting our club, becoming a Seattle 4 Rotary Audio Visual Sponsor brings many benefits. To learn more, click here, or contact Mary for more details at mary@seattlerotary.org.
Do You Have Any Musical Instruments to Donate to Students in Need?
Music4Life is a non-profit and project of Rotary District 5030 that distributes musical instruments to public school students in need.
We welcome any gently used musical instruments you wish to donate. They can be delivered directly to these local music stores that are now open: American Music in Phinney Ridge and Kennelly Keys Music in Bellevue, Lynnwood, and Everett.
Please accompany your instrument with the PDF donation form, linked below.
Our Rotary Cares team is ready to listen and to support you. One of the wonderful things about our club is that you have many friends --you just need to reach out to tap into our amazing network of caring people. Please contact our Rotary Cares Committee Chair to let us know how we can help.
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Rising Star Elementary School
