GENEROUS Rotarians are doing their bit to raise their share of $115,000 to help create a centre for vulnerable women and children in India.

The Rotary Club of Dunbar is working alongside counterparts in Kalimpong to find money for the facility.

The scheme is the second phase of a project which saw the club also involved in raising funds for a vocational training centre.

Rotarian Robin Hamilton has been heavily involved in the project, which has attracted support from more than a dozen Rotary clubs not just  in Scotland and India but even the Czech Republic.

He said: “The vocational training centre is now fully operational. There was something like 400-500 people put through it this year.”

Attention now turns to the delivery of a crisis and rescue centre, which will provide a safe haven and support for women and children rescued from trafficking or suffering from domestic abuse or other vulnerable issues.

Those using it will also have easy access to the skills training centre on the ground floor.

Fundraising is already under way, with the Rotary Club of North Berwick donating £1,000 to the cause.

Other Rotary groups will also be assisting, with a concert planned by Eyemouth’s Rotary Club, while there are even plans for a Rotarian in Australia to kayak down the Murray River.

Robin and Carol Hamilton were joined by fellow Rotarians Brian and Judy Dale, Thelma and John Band, Elaine O’Brien, Wendy Badger and Rhona Bell in visiting Kalimpong in 2016.

Robin, who was a civil engineer, said: “They put on an amazing opening ceremony with 2,500 folks, schools and dignitaries.”

The connection with the town, in the Himalayan foothills, came about after Mr Hamilton met a fellow Rotarian in East Lothian.

He said: “It was through a church twinning project at Belhaven Parish Church.

“I went along to a meeting to do with twinning and there was a minister there from an Indian church. I found out he was in the Rotary and I was vice-president at the time and asked if I could help.”