In celebration of World Polio Day, Rotarians, Rotaractors, and community partners came together for “Zumba Tayo to End Polio”, a project led by the Rotaract Club of Tacloban, on October 25, 2025, at the RTR Plaza Grounds in Tacloban City. The activity gathered over 300 participants from across the community for an afternoon of movement, fellowship, and advocacy in support of Rotary International’s global campaign to eradicate polio.
The event was organized as an area-wide activity of Rotary Areas 3B and 3C, with all Rotary and Rotaract clubs in the area serving as co-hosts. Through a vibrant Zumba fitness activity, participants danced and exercised while raising awareness for the continued fight against polio, a disease that once paralyzed thousands of children around the world each year.
Rotary International has been at the forefront of the global effort to eradicate polio since 1988, working alongside key partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Together, these partners have helped immunize over 2.5 billion children in 122 countries, leading to a 99.9% reduction in polio cases worldwide. Despite this remarkable progress, Rotary and its partners continue their commitment to ensuring that the world becomes completely free of polio.
Adding excitement to the event was the presence of several ZIN (Zumba Instructor Network) instructors, who led participants through energetic dance routines that filled the plaza with music, movement, and enthusiasm. The activity not only promoted health and wellness but also strengthened camaraderie among Rotarians, Rotaractors, and members of the wider community who gathered to support the advocacy.
Complementing the fitness activity was the ZUMBAzaar Flea Market, which opened earlier in the afternoon and featured booths from local exhibitors offering food, drinks, and various goods. The flea market created an avenue for local entrepreneurs and community partners to showcase their products while contributing to the advocacy. Participants were able to shop and support local businesses, turning the event into both a wellness and community marketplace experience.
The success of the event was made possible through the collaboration of several partners, including ZIN Zumba, UP Runggiyan, Tacloban Youth Volunteers Movement, and JJC Tanauan Molave, whose support helped bring together participants from different sectors of the community.
More than just a fitness event, Zumba Tayo to End Polio served as a powerful reminder that collective action can drive meaningful change. By dancing for a cause, participants demonstrated how communities can come together in creative ways to support global health initiatives.
As Rotary continues its historic mission to end polio once and for all, events like this highlight the strength of partnership, community spirit, and the shared belief that a polio-free world is within reach. Through unity, awareness, and action, Rotarians and Rotaractors remain steadfast in ensuring that no child will ever suffer from polio again.
