Interact

Interact is a service club for young people ages 12-18 who are passionate about making a difference while learning about the world and themselves. And having fun! An Interact club will be expected to organize at least two projects every year: one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding.  (RI Interact Handbook 2023 p.4)  

The school Interact club is sponsored and supported by one of the local Rotary Clubs in the area in which the school is located, who work in partnership to foster service, leadership, and character. 

Participants: 

• Secondary school-aged students in Years 7 – 12 oversee and lead a whole school program, involving other students depending on the club's various activities. 

Program Information: 

• The purpose of Interact activities is to engage students in character-building activities, to prepare them for leadership roles and to identify and carry out meaningful projects which benefit their school, local and international communities. 

• The Interact Club needs a teacher to support and guide the students and work with the Rotary Club as required. 

• Clubs have a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer who form a Board to lead and assist the three major committees (School, Local, International) in completing agreed service and fund-raising tasks in their school, their local community and in the wider world. 

• Meetings are held at least twice a month, there are no membership fees, and a Rotary member or two will usually attend each meeting to provide additional liaison, guidance, and support. 

• A standard Interact Constitution and Meeting procedure is available and an annual Leadership Training Day for incoming Interact committees is conducted in December as the December Interact District Assembly Day. (DIDAD) 

• There are no membership fees, and a sponsoring Rotary Club will always undertake to supply some set-up items, such as a banner, meeting gavel and badges for office-bearers. 

Benefits for participants: 

• The students learn to develop committed citizenship, leadership qualities and the importance of respect, dignity and caring for all people by identifying and taking responsibility for real-life problems within their school, local and global communities. 

• Interact clubs have the chance to partner with a worldwide network of similar clubs. 

• Students work with school teaching staff, other involved adults and the sponsoring Rotary club members who act as facilitators, mentors and role models. 

• In a practical manner students: learn how to construct meeting agendas; how to conduct meetings using correct procedure; how to lead small project teams; how to enhance their public speaking ability; experience working together with others in a team to achieve a common purpose; come to realize the importance to all communities of serving the needs of other people. 

For more information contact: 

D9815 Youth Service Chair, Keishan Hunkar. Interact@rotary9815.org.au 

Online Resources 

• All are available on the My Rotary website 

• https://my.rotary.org/en/document/interact-guide-rotary-club-sponsors-and-advisers 

• https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved/interact-clubs/details 

• https://my.rotary.org/en/document/interact-handbook-guide-for-interactors 

• https://my.rotary.org/en/document/interact-club-certification-form 

Interact Clubs in D9815