An introduction to Rotary's programs for Young Leaders. Discover opportunities to engage young leaders in your community through service, leadership development, and fun!
3. ROTARY’S PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG LEADERS | 3
OUR FAMILY OF PROGRAMS
Interact 12-18
Rotaract 18-30
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
Rotary Youth Exchange 15-19
12 years 30 years
New Generations Service Exchange
5. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, YOUNG PEOPLE…
Develop life skills
Acquire professional and leadership skills
Build international understanding and respect for the
rights of others
Learn ethical standards and how to apply them in your
work
Gain opportunities for service, locally and globally
7. ROTARY’S PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG LEADERS | 7
INTERACT
Interact clubs brings together young leaders ages 12-18 to take action, build
international understanding, and make new friends around the world.
Interactors develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service
Above Self. It’s serious leadership that is seriously fun!
Interact clubs organize at least two projects every year, one that helps their
school or community and one that promotes international understanding.
Rotary club sponsors mentor and guide Interactors as they carry out projects
and develop leadership skills.
Interactors connect with leaders in communities around the world to take
action to make a difference in schools and communities, discover new cultures
and promote international understanding, and have fun while making new
friends from around the world.
9. ROTARY’S PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG LEADERS | 9
ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience
organized by Rotary clubs and districts to develop skills as a leader while
having fun and making connections. RYLA challenges youth and young adults
to become a dynamic leaders and change not only themselves but the world.
RYLA events are organized locally by Rotary clubs and districts for
participants ages 14-30 and customized to match community needs as a one-
day seminar, a three-day retreat, or a weeklong camp. Typically, events are 3-
10 days long and include presentations, activities, and workshops covering a
variety of topics. RYLA participants are nominated by local Rotary clubs.
Connect with leaders in your community and around the world through RYLA
to build communication, develop problem-solving skills, learn from
community leaders, inspirational speakers, and peer mentors, and have fun
and make lasting friendships.
11. ROTARY’S PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG LEADERS | 1 1
ROTARACT
Rotaract is a global movement of young leaders taking action to develop
innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Rotaract clubs
bring together young people ages 18-30 to exchange ideas with leaders in the
community, develop leadership and professional skills, and have fun through
service.
Rotaract clubs decide how to organize and run their club, manage their own
funds, and plan and carry out service projects and activities aligned with
causes important for your community. Rotary club sponsors offer guidance
and support, and work together as “partners in service.”
Rotaractors take action locally and internationally to create sustainable
change, grow their professional network and exchange ideas with proven
leaders, develop professional skills through leadership training opportunities,
and have fun and make new friends from around the world.
13. ROTARY’S PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG LEADERS | 1 3
ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE
Rotary Youth Exchange builds peace one young person at a time. Students
learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global
citizens. Exchange students unlock their true potential through a unique
study-abroad opportunity anywhere from a few weeks to a full year as an
international student hosted by local Rotary clubs.
Rotary Youth Exchanges are administered locally and all applicants must be
sponsored by a local Rotary club and district. Rotary clubs are certified to
participate in Rotary Youth Exchange in over 100 countries and geographical
areas.
Interested participants should contact a local Rotary club to see if it
participates and to learn more about the types of programs offered, and
specific application process required. Because the selection and orientation
process can be lengthy, we suggest applications to be submitted 6–12 months
in advance.
16. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
Students who are:
age 15-19
at the high-school or equivalent
academic level
above-average academically
socially ready to handle living abroad
for an extended period
17. PROGRAM COSTS
Expenses:
Round-trip airfare
Travel insurance
All travel documents
Spending money
Additional Long-Term
Expenses:
Orientation session/language camp
Emergency fund
18. HOW TO APPLY
Contact your local Rotary
club or District Youth
Exchange Chair
www.rotary.org
youthexchange@rotary.org
20. ROTARY’S PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG LEADERS | 2 0
NEW GENERATIONS SERVICE EXCHANGE
New Generations Service Exchange is professional development with a
purpose. University students and young professionals ages 18-30 build new
skills, learn a language, and take action through humanitarian service during
short-term, customizable exchanges. Some New Generations Service
Exchanges include vocational mentorship, unpaid internships, and team
volunteering or study groups. These exchanges may be one-way or reciprocal,
for individuals or for small groups.
Districts build upon their existing multi-district networks to find partners and
promote participation. Eligible candidates are sponsored by a local Rotary club
and district leaders. Participants don’t have to be a member of Rotary to apply.
Current and former Rotaractors and former Interactors, RYLA participants,
and Youth Exchange students are highly encouraged to apply. Although each
Rotary club determines the specific eligibility criteria, participants must be
adults and should demonstrate a strong commitment to service and the ideals
of Rotary.
21. ROTARY’S PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG LEADERS | 2 1
CONNECT WITH NEW GENERATIONS ONLINE
www.facebook.com/interactofficial
www.facebook.com/rotaractor
www.twitter.com/rotaract
Search for: Rotary Youth Exchange
(Closed Group for alumni, host families, and
youth exchange chairs)
I know that many of you have worked directly with youth and young adults. Whether you are doing a RYLA event or a workshop with Rotaractors, you know how much more effective it is to show something than to simply talk about it. Videos are a great way to see these programs in action, to hear directly from young people who participate, and to listen to other Rotarians who work with these programs. Our newest video is called Turn New Generations into the Next Generation of Rotarians.This video and others from RI can be found at Rotary’s vimeo channel in multiple languages.(Show video if possible)
Life skills include time management, personal responsibility, financial literacy, and self-esteemProfessional and leadership skills mean being a constructive leader, becoming involved in community improvement, and leadership of youth by youth. RYLA in particular highlights the fundamentals of leadership, ethics of leadership, and problem-solving and decision-makingOf course, international understanding makes you think of youth exchange, but this focus is found in all of our programs. For instance, Interact comes from the words International and Action and each Interact club selects an annual project that contributes to intercultural understanding. Rotaract also provides opportunities from cross-cultural connection through correspondence to home hosting to twin clubs.Key value of RotaryAnd all of our programs give young people the chance to act locally and globally to improve their communities and communities worldwide
Sponsoring a Rotaract or Interact club, planning a RYLA or sending and hosting Youth Exchange students requires a lot of resources from a club or district, however the benefits of supporting Rotary’s next generation far outweigh the efforts put in.
This is an actual quote from a program alumna in Oregon who benefited form these programs.