Taste for Life

Rotary Club
The Hague Metropolitan

Rotary Club The Hague Metropolitan (RCTHM) is one of three English speaking Rotary Clubs in the Netherlands, out of a total of around 350 clubs in the country. We have 35 members, from 20 nations; including a number of Ambassadors, International Court Judges, and representatives of International Organisations/Corporations. RCTHM is the oldest English speaking RC in the Netherlands, recently celebrating its 15th anniversary. We have been honoured, on numerous occasions, with the annual Rotary Netherlands award as the club providing the largest charity contributor per capita. In some years we have exceeded 1000 € per member, all obtained through various events organized by the membership in and around The Hague.

Six years ago, under the patronage of The Lord Mayor of The City of The Hague, we produced our first International Cookbook, called 'The Cook Book'. Proceeds raised from sales and advertising went to build and equip 3 village schools in Burkina Faso in Africa. Find out more about the Background of RCTHM.

The Cookbook
'Taste For Life'

We are now embarking on another Cook-Book project…. this time called "Taste for Life". This sequel will be an exceptional collector's item, as recipes will include contributions from Heads of the Diplomatic Corp, International Courts, International Organisations/Corporations, Master Chefs, Painters, Artistes, Captains of Industry and other distinguished persons.

It is with great pleasure that we can officially announce that all proceeds from 'Taste for Life' will support a 'Water Management' project at two Desa Schools in Central Java. This will be managed by the specialised organisation 'Aqua 4 All', based here in The Netherlands. Their stated objective is "to provide access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation for the poor in rural and peri-urban areas"

As the charity project is to be carried out in Indonesia, we have cordially invited H.E. Mr J. Effendi Habibie, Ambassador of Indonesia to be the Patron of the CookBook 'Taste for Life' The Launch date has been scheduled for Tuesday June 5, 2007 at the Town Hall in Wassenaar and will be graciously hosted by Mayor of Wassenaar, Prof. Dr. Luigi van Leeuwen.

A pdf file containing information on the work of Aqua 4 All can be downloaded here.

Letter of Thanks from the Ambassador of Indonesia

I am pleased to have been informed about the successful book selling for supporting the sanitation and clean drinking water project in Central Java. As much as I would like to come and join with you and kind supporters of this activity, my regrets and apologies for being unable to attend the occasion in view of some unavoidable engagement I have to attend.

Nevertheless, I personally would like to extend my sincere felicitations to you and other supporting agencies for the selling of 1,000 copies of the "Taste for Life", which has helped in making an available amount of €63,675. Personally, I applaud such benevolent activity as this meaningful water project would be a contributing factor in developing the welfare of the local community of Central Java.

Continued: The letter can be downloaded here for you to read in full

If you would like to view the Taste For Life Cookbook presentation that was used on the night, then you can download it here.