Foundation Committee of the Rotary Club of Downers Grove

The Foundation Committee of the Rotary Club of Downers Grove leads international service projects that bring safe water, sanitation, and hygiene to communities in Malawi. We seek to extend the impact of our club far beyond our local community.

This site shares the story of our work in Malawi, in support of opportunities to partner with us on current and future Rotary Global Grants.

Our focus in Malawi

We partner with local organizations, the Rotary club of Blantyre, Malawi, other Rotary clubs, and like-minded individuals to deliver these objectives:

  • Provide clean, reliable water through boreholes and other appropriate technologies.
  • Improve sanitation and hygiene in villages and schools.
  • Strengthen communities through training, local ownership, and long-term sustainability planning.

Through Rotary Global Grants and these partnerships, we aim to:

  • Provide safe, reliable water to rural communities, schools, and health centers.
  • Improve sanitation and hygiene (WASH) so families can live healthier, more dignified lives.
  • Empower local leadership by investing in training, ownership, and long-term sustainability.

Our vision is that every partner community in Malawi has equitable access to clean water and basic sanitation, and that this access fuels better health, education, and economic opportunity—especially for women and girls.

Key Partners

We work through strong partnerships that combine local knowledge with Rotary resources:

  • Villages in Partnership (VIP) – A Malawi-recognized NGO and 501(c)(3) that walks alongside rural communities in Zomba District, helping them identify needs and implement practical solutions.
  • Rotary Club of Blantyre, Malawi – Our Rotary host club partner, providing local leadership, oversight, and connection to the Rotary network in Malawi.
  • Rotary Club of Downers Grove, Illinois – The international sponsor club, coordinating funding, grant management, and project support.

Together, these partners help ensure that projects are community-driven, culturally appropriate, and sustainable.

Committee members, 2025-2026

The Foundation Committee leads grant development, stewardship, and partner relationships for our club:

  • Chris Walquist – Foundation Committee Chair
  • Harry McCabe
  • Laura Trompeter
  • Randa Bishlawi

Learn more about our work on the Grants pages, including our current project GG2688284 and our completed project GG2122731.