International Meeting of Inter-Country Committees / RMB & Companies

« Peace is achieved through Projects »

On Europe Day (May 9th), the Temple of Poetry in the Poets’ Park in Oeiras was the venue for a meeting that united the international dimension of Rotary, through the Intercountry Committees (IPC), and the business aspect, with the Rotary Group “Rotary Means Business” (RMB) and some businesspeople. The Portuguese Section of RMB (no. 103) integrates Districts 1960 and 1970 and currently has 80 members.

The meeting began with a salute to the flags. Meeting was chaired by PDG José Carlos Estorninho, ICC EC President Nathalie Huyghebaert – and the Governor of District 1960, Jorge Lucas Coelho. To his right were the Portugal National Chair of the ICC, Alberto Guerra, and Councillor Dr. Armando Soares, representing the Mayor Dr. Isaltino de Morais, and to his left the President of the RMB of Portugal, Pedro Marques, and the Portugal National Co-Chair of the ICC, PDG Antonio Simões Pinto, and was concluded with speeches by  José Estorninho, Alberto Guerra, Pedro Marques, and Councillor Armando Soares,

The morning’s work was divided into 2 blocks. The first session, dedicated to ICC in Action, began with a moment of silence in memory of Rui Matoso, President of the Intercountry Committee with Spain, who recently died in a car accident.

The presentation of the various ICC was made through the mention of their actions and projects and ended with a speech by the Chair.

India: its President, Miguel Sousa, highlighted the interest of nine Clubs from the former Portuguese India in twinning with clubs in Portugal, with some proposing concrete actions. Requests for collaboration were also received from the Rotary Club of Mumbai Bravehearts D. 3141 for GG projects in partnership with Portuguese Clubs.

Egitto: President Fátima Geada gave a very positive update, predicting a new twinning soon and the formation of a ICC with Portugal. Turkey: President Lourdes Torres spoke about the twinning situation and the ongoing GG “Olive VTT Project” with several countries, with the R.C. Izmir as its promoter.

Morocco: Member Isabel Lopes (twinning), spoke about the upcoming twinning between the Rotary Clubs of Vila Moura Internacional and Tethuan. Two projects involving schools and music are also underway.

Ucraina: President Simões Pinto spoke about the various projects and activities that have been carried out within the framework of this ICC and the existing twinning agreements, and urged the Clubs of District 1960 to be willing to twin with clubs in Ukraine, which are in dire need of support

Italia: Member Maria Edite Pereira mentioned the upcoming twinning in June between the Rotary Club of Vicenza and the Rotary Club of Faro.

Mozambique: President Elsa Salzedas reported significant difficulties in communication with Mozambique, especially because requests for help are not followed up by local Rotary clubs, making it difficult to mobilize them to respond. Currently, there is a project for the construction of a wall at a school in a port city. This is justified for the protection of children because the school is being invaded by people who use it as a route. Awaiting the submission of data and photographs.

However, through the National Chair of ICC Mozambique – Portugal (Moz section), we received the GG project, which needs an international partner, “From the River to the Pump – Water for All in Manica,” which proposes to drill 8 boreholes and has a budget of USD 75,000.

Macau and Timor: President PDG Vitor Cordeiro, after several years of contacts and attempts at twinning, the possibility of twinning between R.C. Macau and R.C. de Parede – Carcavelos is foreseen. Relations with the Rotary Club Dili Lafaek have been quite frequent, with a Timorese couple from this Club having been in Portugal taking courses in Portuguese, supported by R.C. Parede Carcavelos and Oeiras. There is a planned project for a library for a school in Dili, but the process has been slow.

Lusophone West Africa – AOL: Vice-President Maria Sampaio mentioned the continued support for São Tomé through the “Associação Abraçar São Tomé” (Association to Embrace São Tomé). GG project with the R.C. of S. Tomé Ossobó to equip a school in Sta. Lúzia. Regarding Guinea-Bissau and involving the R.C. of Bissau, we have the appeal that comes to us from the “NGO Kadimi” for homeless children and the projects to support Buba, in the areas of health and education.

In this sense, we had the opportunity to hear the presentation of Sister N’Dira Cruz of the Religious Congregation of the Hospitaller Nuns of the Immaculate Conception (CONFHIC) about a large scale project that they intend to carry out in Guinea.

The Chairs recalled the projects that emerged from the 3rd Seminar held with the African Clubs that are part of this ICC on April 23rd. Among others, he highlighted in Cape Verde, a hydroponic culture project to feed the residents of St. Cruz and create a source of income for the local population. In Angola, the project – Together for BENGUELA – requested by the Rotary Club of Lobito as “an emergency initiative to bring hope, resources and reconstruction to the more than 9,000 families affected by the intense rains in Benguela”, is described in the link: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:9d41375e-7207-4ad0-809d-eb9942010d7e

This was followed by some information about absent ICC. Those of France, the USA and Great Britain will have a new President from July 1, 2026. The French one has ongoing projects for Angola in partnership with France and a twinning with the Rotary Club Cascais Estoril is expected soon, after the visit of French Rotarians from the Moulin-Yzeure Club. There are ongoing projects for Portugal in partnership with US clubs, and the ICC of Great Britain also has one project for Portugal in partnership with several clubs and is developing another with the support of the MBIMB Foundation.

The ICC of Belux is awaiting the establishment of the Belux section, the Intercountry Committee of Israel is experiencing the constraints of the current situation, and the ICC of Brazil has faced communication difficulties. All presented compelling reasons for their absence.

The Chair’s presentation began with a brief explanation of what Rotary is for the non-Rotarians present, and regarding the Peaceful Integration Commission (PIC), he highlighted, in addition to the history of its formation through the ICC EC video, that today the “Mission of the PIC is the construction of POSITIVE PEACE.

A better mutual understanding of International and Service relations, supporting Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation, allowing a rapid response to global challenges whose solution fosters friendships from country to country, district to district and club to club, guaranteeing all participant in the advent of Peaceful Societies.” and also the following aspects:

• Currently there are 15 Intercountry Committees + 4 in formation (in 11/2022 we had 8 Intercountry Committees + 3 in formation)
• How an Intercountry Committee is constituted and what keeps it functioning
• The importance of twinning
• The functions of the Chairs
• Within the ecosystem of the District Resource Network available in each district to which the ICC belong, they act as a linking and coordinating force. The strategic role of the Intercountry Committees is to activate and strengthen the connections between all six nodes of the DRR.
• The Intercountry Committee Coordinates — never controls.
• He mentioned other aspects related to the new management of the ICC E.C. and its  action plan, namely, the inclusion of Rotaract members

The second block was dedicated to Rotary Means Business & Entrepreneurs.

The National President of RMB, Pedro Marques (RC Lisboa Benfica, D1960), emphasized the group’s focus on qualified networking, leveraging skills and professional classifications to realize national and international social projects, including Global Grants, always aligned with Rotary’s emphases.

The RMB format was present: each participant — Rotarian and non-Rotarian — introduced themselves, sharing their name, professional area of expertise, and motivations. Pedro Marques reinforced that joining RMB requires being a Rotarian, thus promoting the growth and strengthening of the social framework of the clubs.

Following this, a presentation of the professional activities carried out by one of the members of the Rotary fellowship group was given: Rotary Means Business (RMB).

In the afternoon session, the group met in the Camões room, where three working groups were formed. They reflected on the projects presented in the morning session by the ICC, sharing opinions and suggestions on them.

It was possible to identify the interest of the colleagues present in collaborating on some of the projects.

Thus, Dr. Alexandra Dias (from the P.S.A. Law Firm) expressed interest in the projects presented by Sister N`Dira (CONFHIC) and in projects in India. Regarding the projects in Guinea, the questions raised were clarified and the greatest difficulties that arise were identified.

At the level of:

• construction materials (very expensive in Guinea);
• sending containers (difficulties in finding sponsors) some of those present suggested contacting the Portuguese Navy regarding the transport of goods. Also speak with Comrade Filipe Raposo from the R.C. of Sines and member of ICC Portugal-AOL.
• regarding the land donation, which CONFHIC hopes to obtain for the construction of the Center, several reflections were shared on legal issues regarding the donation of the land.

According to Companion Carlos Pinto Machado from the Rotary Club of Caldas da Rainha, the legal concept in Guinea is cession (50 or 80 years or more) and not donation.

Regarding support in the health area (travel by doctors for short periods, (travel by doctors for short periods, similar to what some Rotary Clubs already do (Entron-camento, for example).

Rotarian Kelly presented a project by UBI with Guinea and the “Comuna NGO” in the health field, in which medical students do volunteer work/internships and are confronted with the need to perform interventions beyond their skills (notably surgeries). From this we can infer that medical schools can be partners of Rotary in this area.

It seems that in this country the internet is very inaccessible.

PDG Simões Pinto, regarding possible projects with India (Dr. Alexandra and Miguel Sousa from ICC India), highlighted that Brazil and India are countries with which we should work, as they are very active.

There is much to receive and much to give.

He spoke about subsidies, highlighting a project between R.C. Montemor o Velho and R.C. Coimbra for albino children in Mozambique, which led to a campaign for eyeglasses and creams. These children, who were marginalized and mistreated, are now under the care of an institution. The project, crowned with success, is expanding.

He concluded that partnerships are very important.                       

Pedro Marques spoke about R.C. Benfica’s project with the S. Tomás de Aquino Social Center, which, during the COVID-19 pandemic, provided massage services and psychological support to seniors, ensuring the delivery of snacks to the elderly at home on Fridays. This practice continues.

Miguel Sousa from R.C. Maia spoke about possible projects with India. There is a lot of interest from Indian clubs in doing projects with our clubs.

In response to a question about the “My Body is My Body” project (a question posed by Dr. Paula Guimarães – a non-Rotarian), Kelly O’Hara explained the project, stating that it originated in England and that manuals and training support are available in Portuguese, which she would send if interested. This project is aimed at children of both sexes.

Regarding the need to create dynamics between the RMB and the ICC, PDG Simões Pinto proposed holding a 2nd Meeting with the RMB, the ICC, and businesspeople, emphasizing the fundamental importance of ensuring their presence and that of representatives from all ICC.

Reinforcing this idea, Esteves Guerra suggested that the participation of the “Collaborative Professional Platform D.1970 – ROTARY PRO” would also be important, as they were invited to participate in this Meeting but did not attend.

Finally, Pedro Marques stated that the purpose of the Meeting had been achieved. At the end of this meeting, members of RMB, ICC, and businesspeople experienced a moment of camaraderie, promoting the exchange of ideas and the implementation of joint activities and projects. The overall success of this important event was celebrated with a celebratory «Carcavelos de Honra» offered to all particippants.