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 Chefs’, 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.

If you know of a school that might be interested, please contact Arthur Chapman whose contact details can be found on the back of this handbook and he will liaise with you and the school