May is Youth Services Month when Rotary Clubs around the world focus on youth services. Rotary International’s Structured Programs for Youth Service are: Rotaract, Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), Youth Exchange and Earlyact. Rotary’s programs are developing the next generation of leaders, providing funding to make the world a better place.

Rotaract:

Rotary and Rotaract members work side by side to take action through service. Rotaract is a global movement of young leaders, aged 18-30, developing innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Rotaract clubs exchange ideas with leaders in the community, develop leadership and
professional skills, and have fun through service. Rotaractors organize and run their own club, manage their own funds, and plan and carry out activities and service projects aligned with causes that are important to their communities. There are 9,522 Rotaract Clubs with 291,000 members in 177 countries.

Interact:

Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. Young people in the community can be empowered to take action and gain a global perspective through Interact. 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. There are 20,372 Interact Clubs with 468,000 members in 159 countries.