Rotaract is a global organisation designed for young adults ages 18 and above who want to make a difference in their local or global communities. In general, a Rotaract club is either based in a community or in a university and is founded in connection to a local Rotary club. In Germany, all ~ 200 Rotaract clubs are community based, while this is quite different in many other countries. Rotaract clubs are nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonreligious, open to all cultures, and adhered to Rotary’s motto – Service Above Self, and the Four-Way Test: Of the things we think, say or do:
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Rotaractors are encouraged to grow personally and professionally, address community needs, and promote international understanding through friendship and service. Each club usually holds weekly or bi-weekly meetings, which can feature speakers, discussions, and visits to/from other clubs. Rotaractors also get together for service projects, social activities, and leadership workshops.
Rotaract was founded in 1968 by Rotary International, a worldwide association of service-minded business and professional leaders. Today there are over 10,000 Rotary-supported Rotary clubs with more than 200,000 members in some 189 countries around the world.
The term ROTARACT is derived from the term ROTARy in ACTion, alluding to Rotary’s commitment to promoting world understanding and peace through the development of leadership amongst the youth.
A Rotaract club is more than a community service club. It is part of a global effort to bring peace and international understanding to the world. This effort starts at the community level, but it knows no limits in its outreach. Rotaract clubs organize a variety of projects and activities, depending primarily on the interests of the club members.
There are, however, three types of activities within the Rotaract Program that all clubs undertake in varying degrees: professional development, leadership development, and service project development. Together, these areas guarantee a balanced club program and provide important experiences and opportunities for the personal development of each Rotaractor.
Beyond the club level, Rotaractors can further participate in the annual district/international conferences, scholarship programs offered by the Rotary Foundation, and Group Study Exchange for working professionals.
More information about Rotaract and Rotary :
Rotaract Deutschland Komittee (German)
Rotaract Distrikt 1820 (German)
Rotary International
Rotary Frankfurt/Main-International (German)
Rotary Eschborn (German)