provided to The Santiva Chronicle
Rotary International has designated May as “Youth Service Month.” Rotary’s Youth Service programs have a long history of developing young leaders and providing for health and education projects to make the world a better place.
These programs prioritize creating world peace and understanding while exposing youth to the ideals of “Service Above Self.” Youth Service is important because youth are our future.
Today’s youth will eventually be running our country and the world, and are the future of Rotary. For Rotary and its ideals of service to be a worthy enterprise that survives and thrives beyond our lifetime, Rotarians must be involved in Youth Service.
One such program is Interact, a Rotary-sponsored service club for 14-to 18-year-olds. Interact provides young people with the opportunity to participate in engaging, meaningful service projects.
Along the way, Interactors develop their leadership skills and initiative while meeting new friends. Members exchange ideas, opinions, and plans with other talented and energetic people in an atmosphere free from negative pressures and distractions.
Interact strives to promote student leadership and local volunteer service and to educate members about the numerous global and world issues that affect people every day.
Ultimately, students can become acquainted with a premiere service organization (Rotary International) and proven leaders from communities throughout Rotary; learn how to manage and head community service projects; learn about other Rotary club programs, including Rotaract (service club for young adults), Earlyact (a service club for primary school students), youth exchange (a chance to live and study abroad ) and RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards).
The word “Interact” stands for “International Action,” and today there are more than 10,700 clubs in 109 countries.
Another Youth Service Program is Rotaract, a Rotary-sponsored service club for young people ages 18-30. Rotaract clubs are typically 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 enhance their knowledge and skills, addressing the physical and social needs of their communities while promoting 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 over 9,500 Rotaract Clubs and 291,000 members in 177 countries. Rotaractors follow the motto “fellowship through service”.
The Rotary Youth Exchange is an excellent and affordable way for high school-age students to travel and study in a foreign country. Youth exchange provides participants with the opportunity to improve their language skills, while school and family experiences in their host country will teach them about the local culture.
They also act 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 an equal number of young people from other countries in return.
Additionally, RLYA is an excellent program. Each year, thousands of young people take part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) programs worldwide.
Young people are selected for their leadership potential to attend a seminar, camp, or workshop, where they 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 among youth by youth, and publicly recognize young people who are rendering service to their communities.
Started in Queensland, Australia, in 1959 and officially adopted by Rotary International in 1971, 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 lead to the strengthening and formation of Interact and Rotaract clubs, and can be used as a recruiting tool for youth exchange programs.
The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary meets at the Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way, and also on zoom. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., the meeting begins at 8 a.m. For more information about Rotary, visit sanibelrotary.org. All are welcome.
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