Continuing our series on Avenues of Service, today we look at
Youth Service/New Generations:
The last avenue of service relates to youth and is often referred to as New Generations. The objective is to empower youth and young professionals through leadership development programs. Four main programs fall in this category: Interact, Rotaract, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and Rotary Youth Exchange. Many Rotarians are actively engaged in supporting those programs.
Interact and Rotaract clubs are sponsored by Rotary clubs. Interact is the branch of Rotary for adolescents ages 12 to 18 (the Interactors). Most Interact clubs operate in a specific high school, but some clubs are community-based instead of being school-based. Globally, Rotary International estimates that Interact membership may be over 500,000 in 150 countries.
Rotaract is the branch of Rotary for university students and professionals. Members used to be 18 to 30 years old, but recently the age limit has been abolished. According to the latest annual report by Rotary International, the organization had over 200,000 Rotaractors worldwide.
Interact and Rotaract clubs operate under the supervision of Rotary clubs with designated Rotarian advisers, who provide advice and support. The clubs are fairly independent, with their membership organizing their own service projects, local or international. In the case of school based Interact clubs, supervision is also maintained by a school adviser.
The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is a leadership program typically for high school students. In my district for example, the program consists of an intense three-day, two-night leadership training program designed to recognize, encourage, and further develop the leadership skills of 10th, 11th and 12th grade high school students selected by clubs to participate in the event. Many high school students attend the event each year. Our district also has the Adventure programs, considered as leadership activities as well.
Finally, Rotary Youth Exchange is an exchange program for students ages 15 to 19. Long-term exchanges last for a full academic year with students attending a local school abroad and living with one or more host families. Most students in the program have completed high school in their home country.
Short-term exchanges can last from several days to up to three months. They tend to take place in settings such as camps, tours, or homestays when schools are not in session. The various exchanges are sponsored by Rotary clubs. However, all exchanges have been stopped until at least 2022 because of COVID
