September is New Generations Month
MISSION
To provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Through New Generations Service, the organization recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, involvement in community and international service projects, and exchange programs. Individual clubs determine whether to participate in any particular program sponsored by Rotary International.
PROGRAMS
Ambassadorial Scholarships offer academic-year scholarships for study abroad for college/university undergraduate and graduate students and for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies.
The Rotary Peace Fellows program provides opportunities to pursue a master's degree in international relations, public administration, sustainable, development, peace studies, conflict resolution or a related field, or a professional development certificate in pace and conflict resolution. Fellows study at one of seven Rotary Centers for International Studies, which include a program jointly offered by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University.
Applications for scholarships and fellowships must be submitted through local Rotary clubs.
TRAINING AND PROGRAM AREAS
Interact is Rotary's service club for youth ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs can be community-based or school-based. Individual Rotary clubs sponsor Interact clubs and provide them with support and guidance, but each Interact club is self-governing and self-supporting. The goals of Interact include development leadership skills and personal integrity, demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others, understanding the value of individual responsibility and hard work, and advancing international understanding and goodwill.
Rotaract targets young adults ages 18 to 30. University-based clubs consist of undergraduate and graduate students who meet on campus. Community-based clubs consist of young adults from various backgrounds, regardless of their professional or academic status. All Rotaract clubs are sponsored by a local Rotary club and conduct community and international service projects. Rotaract clubs also focus on leadership and professional development activities.
Rotary Youth Exchange is Rotary's exchange program for youth and young adults. It allows students to spend up to a year living in a different country and learning a new culture. Students ages 15 to 19 can participate in a long-term exchange of up to one year, or they can choose a short-time exchange ranging from several days to several weeks. New Generations Exchanges for young adults ages 18 to 25 can range from a few weeks to three months. Rotary clubs and district sponsor exchange participants, who serve as ambassadors for their countries.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is Rotary's leadership training program for young people. Participants range in age from 14 to 30; most clubs and districts choose to focus on a specific age group within that range. The program emphasizes leadership, citizenship and personal growth. It demonstrates Rotary's respect and concern for youth by providing an effective leadership training experience for potential leaders, encouraging leadership of youth by youth, and publicly recognizing young people who serve their communities.
Individual Rotary Clubs may also support youth engagement through mentoring programs, career days, essay contests, youth and young adult service projects and other activities.