Young Rotary
Serving our Local Community

Rotary encourages all family members to take part in activities and programmes, and specifically offers the chance for young people to develop personal skills and a better awareness of problems that face the world today. This is an opportunity to meet, work and have a great time with like-minded young people, guided and supported by Rotarians.

Interact - Youth clubs for young people aged 14 to 18 who work together to help others in the community and across the world, whilst having fun and excitement at the same time.

Rotaract - Fun, dynamic clubs for 18 to 30-year-olds, which enable members to meet new people, develop personal and professional skills and give something back to local and international communities.

Youth Exchange - Each year, Rotary Youth Exchange provides over 9,000 young people worldwide the opportunity to see the world, not as a tourist, but as it should be seen by meeting and living with people from other lands and cultures, possibly learning another language and certainly discovering their real self and of what they are capable.

Competitions - RIBI runs a range of competitions across Great Britain and Ireland aimed at promoting young people's opportunities and celebrating their achievements.

Scholarships - Rotary runs a range of scholarships aimed at encouraging personal development, while at the same time helping to further world understanding.

Interact - Rotary Activities for 14 - 18 year olds

Based mainly in schools, Interact is a service and social club for young people. There are 8,600 Interact Clubs worldwide, in 110 countries. Members promote active service in the Club’s own local community and, where there is need, internationally. This provides an opportunity for young people to put their powerful enthusiasm behind worthwhile service projects. In addition, the youngsters make new friends with people they meet in the course of their projects, develop teamwork and leadership skills and make a difference to the world in which they live as well as reaping the rewards gained by helping others through service.

Interact Clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary Clubs or clusters of Clubs but are self-governing and self-supporting. The Rotary Clubs provide support and guidance and the school appoints an overseeing teacher. Each year, Interact Clubs carry out local service projects that benefit their community or school, such as collecting food for the elderly or infirm, tidying gardens or washing cars and helping at Rotary events. They carry out at least one international service project each year and, by so doing, extend their understanding of the world and promote goodwill. Fundraising could involve events such as sponsored swims, walks or cycle rides. They can also gain from:

• Broadening their horizons by getting to know the many people they serve – the elderly, children with disabilities and many others throughout the community
• Developing a sense of individual responsibility by organising projects to improve the environment, eradicating polio, promoting drug awareness and addressing other community problems
• Learning more about other cultures by communicating and working with Interactors abroad
• Travelling to other countries through Rotary’s Youth Exchange programmes
• Participating in Rotary activities such as Rotary Youth Speaks, Rotary Young Chef, Rotary Technology Tournaments, etc.

Having an Interact Club in a school helps to fulfil the curriculum for Citizenship, now a compulsory and necessary addition to the school syllabus. OFSTED Inspectors have given kudos points to schools for having Interact Clubs.

The Interact Club of Highlands School in Winchmore Hill is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Southgate.

You can find out more about Young Rotary HERE