Kiwanis Service Projects

We believe in people and in their desire to improve their living standards. That is why Kiwanis provides the tools to help others start up. We set up projects with clearly defined objectives.

For example, Kiwanis, in cooperation with UNICEF has made a commitment to collect US$ 75 million world wide for the purpose of eliminating iodine deficiency throughout the world. Many diseases and afflictions are caused by a deficiency of iodine. One of the unfortunate results of this is a decrease in the learning capacity of children, and it is this problem which has attracted Kiwanis' attention.

We do other things as well. Each Kiwanis Club in whatever country is free to start up its own project, whether it be within its own borders or international. The project to provide bicycle helmets to schoolchildren is already a success in many countries. The Special Olympics, which we sponsor, give the opportunity for the mentally handicapped to excel in sports.
The most visible project, however, is the Kiwanis Doll. We offer this doll to hospitals to prepare children for a medical visit or surgery. The doll serves the purpose of making the child understand in a simple and clear manner what medical treatment lies ahead. We try to take away most of the child's fear this way. The doll becomes the personal property and intimate friend of that child. That, in a nutshell, is what Kiwanis is all about: to provide confidence and a future to children. Children should be given a chance to live and to learn, under the best circumstances, no matter what race, religion or colour they are.