The Rotaract is the youth division of the Rotary. It was founded in 1968 in the United States by the International Rotary, a global organisation of service clubs.
Today there are more than 7,500 Rotaract clubs worldwide. Rotaract is present in more than 156 countries and has more than 173,000 members.
Rotaract International is run on a district level. In Belgium, there are four districts:
Rotaract clubs are open to all young people, regardless of parental affiliation to the Rotary. Minimum age for membership is 18 years – maximum age is 35 years.
The name ‘Rotaract’ is a contraction of the words ‘ROTARy in ACTion’.
Clubs mostly organize their own activities. Various clubs in a same district get together at monthly district meetings. This gives all the clubs the opportunity to share their planned activities, whether they be sport events, social days, team week-ends or gala evenings. All such activities are organized for a good cause.
Objectives:
- To develop professional and leadership skills
- To emphasize respect for the rights of others,
based on recognition of the worth of each
individual
- To recognize the dignity and value of all useful
occupations as opportunities to serve
- To recognize, practice, and promote ethical
standards as leadership qualities and vocational
responsibilities
- To develop knowledge and understanding of
the needs, problems, and opportunities in the
community and worldwide
- To provide opportunities for personal and
group activities to serve the community and
promote international understanding and
goodwill toward all people
