Katy's Knowledge Corner

Did you know? About Rotary's Youth Services  

• Interact (International Action): Interact is a Rotary-sponsored service club comprised of 14-18-year-olds. Interact strives to promote student leadership and local volunteer service, and to make members aware of the many global issues that affect people every day. Today, there are more than 10,700 clubs in 109 countries.

   

• Rotaract: Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young people ages 18-30.  Rotaract clubs are usually community or university-based and are sponsored by a local Rotary club, making them true “partners in service” and key members of the Rotary family.
  Young adults augment their knowledge and skills, address the physical and social needs of their communities, and promote international understanding and peace through a framework of friendship and service.  Rotaractors also often spearhead the formation of Interact clubs and participate in RYLA. Rotaract is one of the fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 9,500 Rotaract Clubs with 291,000 members in 177 countries.

   

• Rotary Youth Exchange: Rotary Youth Exchange is an excellent and affordable way for high school-age students to travel and study abroad. It gives participants the opportunity to improve their language skills, and school and family experiences will teach them about the culture of their host country while acting as ambassadors for their home country.  Each year, the Rotary Districts that are part of CSRYE send approximately 300 young people to other countries and accept 300 young people from other countries in return. The goal of Rotary Youth Exchange is to promote international understanding, goodwill, and peace at the person-to-person level.

   

• RYLA: Each year, thousands of young people take part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) programs worldwide.  Young people are chosen for their leadership potential to attend a seminar, camp, or workshop to discuss and practice leadership skills.  

  RYLA aims to:
  •   Demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for youth;
  •   Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders;
  •   Encourage leadership of youth by youth; and
  •   Recognize publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities.
  
  The RYLA program enables young people to debate issues of professional responsibility and human relations, improve leadership and communication skills, learn about businesses or institutions, and meet Rotarians, while having fun and making friends.  For participants, RYLA provides the opportunity to refine skills and explore pertinent topics with peers and elders; for Rotarians, RYLA offers the chance to help develop leaders, share valuable expertise, and bridge the gap between generations.  RYLA can help strengthen and form Interact and Rotaract clubs and can be used as a recruiting tool for youth exchange.