"Interactors and Rotaractors are our Partners in Service"

For our national hero, Rizal, Youth is the hope of the Fatherland; for poet GeorgeBarnard Shaw, Youth is wasted on the young. Even the forthcoming 2010 F polls are banking on Youth votes as seen in strategies employed by politicians, television ads and various mobile phone gimmicks.

And indeed, we cannot discount the contribution of youth. Reason why RotaryInternational reserves the month of September each year as the New Generations Month. It is atthis time that I appeal to fellow Rotarians in D3850 to focus on the youth on whom our worthy organization has seen fit to invest in.

RI has a four-tier structured program aimed at training the youth and introducing the idealsof Rotary to them. These are Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, and Youth Exchange.

Interact is a club for high school students, aged 14- 18. They must accomplish at least twocommunity service projects, that would further international understanding and goodwill. Theyinteract with close to a quarter million Interactors in 10,700 Interact clubs in 109 countries andterritories. On the other hand, Rotaract is a service club of collegians and young professionals,aged 18 to 30. It may be either campus or community-based. Interactors and Rotaractors are our"Partners in Service," as they do civic and community projects while fostering internationalunderstanding and peace with their fellow Rotaractors around the world. There are now morethan 7,000 Rotaract clubs in 163 countries and territories.Both Interact and Rotaract clubs areself-supporting/ self-governing even as they are trained, and guided by their sponsoring Rotary clubs.

RYLA stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. RYLA usually is a training camp sponsoredby one or multiple Rotary clubs for aged 14-30 participants. Most RYLAs, however, set a narrowerage range from 14 to 18. A RYLA includes citizenship and leadership seminars, workshops, andrecreational activities.

Youth Exchange allows children of Rotarians and non-Rotarians, aged 15- 19, to study ayear in high school abroad with a host family. Known more popularly as Rotary Exchange (Rotex),the program immerses a participant in a new environment, language, school system, culture andtraditions, and even new currency. The Rotex serves as an ambassador of friendship andgoodwill of the Rotary District and the country he or she represents.

In view of the great opportunity among the Youth Sector, I enjoin all Rotary clubs in D3850to mobilize their Interact and Rotaract clubs and build new ones. As well, active participation inour RYLA and Youth Exchange is our way of investing time for the future Rotarians.

The possibilities are endless if we keep our eyes open to the New Generations in your areas.

 

DG Edgar Sy