Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. The main objective of Rotary is service - in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as poverty, hunger, and violence. Two examples of these projects are the Women rights focused Kano Agency for Mass education in Nigeria, and the 1997 Anti-dowry Seminar that took place in India. Many Rotary member projects are supported by The Rotary foundation , a not-for-profit corporation that promotes world understanding through international humanitarian service programs and educational and cultural exchanges. Since 1947, the Foundation has awarded more than US$1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants. Rotary International has a high level consultative status at the Economic and Social Council of the UN.