Mother and daughter returned to their home in Taganrog, a Russian city on an inlet of the Black Sea, on February 23. The RCC grew out of a community service project launched five years ago by the Rotary Club of Hutt Valley to restore a landmark building. At the recommendation of the local police, the effort enlisted 10 young people who had committed several burglaries. Now supported by eight Hutt City-area Rotary clubs, the RCC provides members six months of vocational training in groundskeeping or painting. Groundskeepers learn how to clear land, including controlled burn-offs, planting, pruning, mulching, mowing, and landscaping.
Painters learn paint removal, plaster repair, sanding, and painting.
The RCC also teaches members communication, math, and budget skills and helps them write a resume and prepare for job interviews. Once they have mastered one task, they are rewarded with more responsibility. Seventy percent of our graduates get permanent jobs. The Corps has also helped us with many of our projects and aims to have all of the 400 community buildings and grounds in pristine condition over the next six to eight years. Every time the RCC is mentioned in the media, it improves the image of Rotary as being an organization that makes a difference in our community.