Getting Involved in Rotary

Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. Find out how serious leadership can be seriously fun.

What are the benefits?

Connect with leaders in your community and around the world to:

• Take action to make a difference in your school and community
• Discover new cultures and promote international understanding
• Become a leader in your school and community
• Have fun and make new friends from around the world

What’s involved?

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.

Celebrate the global impact of Interact by getting involved in:

• World Interact Week
• Interact Video Awards
• Rotary Youth Day at the United Nations
• Global Youth Service Day

How do I join?

Check with your school or contact a local Rotary club to find out if there’s an Interact club in your area. Contact the Interact club to find out how you can join its next meeting, service project, or community event.

Join Rotaract

Join the global movement of young leaders who are developing innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

Rotaract clubs bring together people ages 18 and older to exchange ideas with leaders in the community, develop leadership and professional skills, and have fun through service.

In communities worldwide, Rotary and Rotaract members work side by side to take action through service. From big cities to rural villages, Rotaract is changing communities like yours.

What’s involved?

Rotaract members decide how to organize and run their clubs, manage their own funds, and plan and carry out activities and service projects. Rotary club sponsors offer guidance and support and work with your club as partners in service.

How do I join?

Connect with a local Rotaract club to learn how you can get involved. Find a Rotary or Rotaract club near you.

Join Rotary

The heart of Rotary is our members, dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship.

Rotary members share ideas, make plans, hear from the community, and catch up with friends during club programs that fuel the impact we make.

Find a Rotary club in District 7780 Seacoast NH and Southern ME by visiting the club directory.

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. Exchanges for students ages 15-19 are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries.

What are the benefits?

Exchange students unlock their true potential to:

• Develop lifelong leadership skills
• Learn a new language and culture
• Build lasting friendships with young people from around the world
• Become a global citizen

How long do exchanges last?

Long-term exchanges last a full academic year, and students attend local schools and live with multiple host families.

Short-term exchanges last from several days to three months and are often structured as camps, tours, or homestays that take place when school is not in session.

What are the costs?

Room and board are provided, as well as any school fees. Each program varies, but students are usually responsible for:

• Round-trip airfare
• Travel insurance
• Travel documents (such as passports and visas)
• Spending money and any additional travel or tours

How can I apply?

Candidates are ages 15-19 and are leaders in their schools and communities. Contact your local Rotary club to see what exchange opportunities are available and what the application process involves.

Rotary Peace Fellows

Each year, Rotary awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of our peace centers.

Through academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centers program develops the capacity of peace and development professionals to become effective catalysts for peace. The fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses.

Since the program began in 2002, the Rotary Peace Centers have trained more than 1,500 fellows who now work in over 115 countries. Many serve as leaders in governments, NGOs, education and research institutions, peacekeeping and law enforcement agencies, and international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank.

Our fellowships

The Rotary Peace Fellowship is designed for leaders with work experience in peace and development. Our fellows are committed to community and international service and the pursuit of peace. Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and 80 for certificate studies at premier universities.

Choose the program that’s right for you

Master’s degree programs

Accepted candidates study peace and development issues with research-informed teaching and a diverse student body. The programs last 15 to 24 months and include a two- to three-month field study, which participants design themselves.

Professional development certificate program

During the one-year blended learning program, experienced peace and development professionals with diverse backgrounds gain practical skills to promote peace within their communities and across the globe. Fellows complete field studies, and they also design and carry out a social change initiative. This program is intended for working professionals. Fellows earn a post-graduate diploma upon completion of the program.

Rotary Action Groups

Rotary Action Groups are independent, Rotary-affiliated groups made up of people from around the world who are experts in a particular field, such as economic development, peace, addiction prevention, the environment, or water.

Action groups offer their technical expertise and support to help clubs plan and implement projects to increase our impact, one of Rotary’s strategic priorities. This support includes helping clubs find partners, funding, and other resources. Action groups can also help clubs and districts prepare grant applications, conduct community assessments, and develop plans to monitor and evaluate their projects. Read more about these activities in the Rotary Action Groups annual report.

Anyone who wants to share their expertise to make a positive difference can join an action group. Only Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Rotary Peace Fellows can serve in leadership roles.

Contact or join a Rotary Action Group

Contact a Rotary Action Group to:

• Get expert advice on planning and implementing service projects, including those funded by Rotary Foundation district and global grants
• Connect with potential project partners, both within and outside of Rotary
• Get help fundraising and obtaining resources for projects

Join a Rotary Action Group to share your expertise and make a difference in projects outside your club or district. To get involved, look at our directory and contact the action group you’re interested in.

Rotary Action Groups by area of focus

• Promoting peace
• Fighting disease
• Providing clean water and sanitation
• Saving mothers and children
• Supporting education
• Growing local economies
• Protecting the environment

Rotary support

Questions? Contact actiongroups@rotary.org.