By Marcelo Goberto de Azevedo, Rotary Club de Marília Leste, Brazil
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the world slowed down. But inside my home, something unexpected began to take shape – one fold at a time.
I have been a proud Rotary member since 2013. During the long months of lockdown, I found myself looking for a way to stay connected – with people, with purpose, and with hope. That’s when the idea of folding one thousand origami cranes came to me.
In Japanese tradition, a Senbazuru – folding 1,000 paper cranes – is believed to grant a heartfelt wish. My wish? For healing, for peace, and for the world to recover from the pandemic. So, I picked up a square of paper and started folding.
A crane a day, a message of hope
I folded one crane each day and photographed it with my phone. No fancy equipment. No studio lighting. Just paper, purpose, and a quiet moment of reflection.
Each crane became a symbol – not just of my hope, but of Rotary’s values: peace, health, service, and resilience. As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into years, the project became a form of meditation and activism. A way to say: we are still here, we still care, and we still serve.
Rotary was in every fold
Rotary has always been a part of my life. The friendships, the commitment to ethics, the idea that small actions can lead to big change – these are not just words. They are values I’ve lived by since joining my club in 2013.
This project reminded me why I joined Rotary in the first place. Even isolated at home, I felt part of something bigger – part of a global network of people who act with purpose and compassion. That’s the Rotary spirit.
The book and its purpose
After nearly three years, I completed all 1,000 cranes. I compiled the photographs into a book: 1000 Tsurus for Peace. Each page shows a different crane and a different moment – some bright, some solemn, but all meaningful.
You can find the book on Amazon, and here’s the most important part: 100% of the profits go to The Rotary Foundation – specifically to support the End Polio Now campaign. Every purchase helps fund Rotary’s historic effort to eradicate polio and promote peace worldwide.
A call to action
I never imagined that a piece of folded paper could carry so much meaning. But that’s the magic of intention and the power of Rotary.
I hope my story inspires you to find your own creative way to serve. Fold something. Build something. Share something. And above all, believe that small gestures can have a huge impact.
What simple act has helped you stay connected to Rotary during difficult times? Share them in the comments section below.
https://blog.rotary.org/2025/08/28/folding-1000-cranes-and-finding-rotary-in-every-fold/