Youth Service Month

May is Youth Service Month

May is Youth Service Month — a time dedicated to recognizing the local and global impact of the 350,000+ young people engaged in Rotary’s youth programs worldwide. Join us in honoring Rotary’s young leaders by:

Following @RotaryYoungLeaders on Instagram
This new account showcases the experiences of Rotary’s youth program participants! Follow for news and updates about Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), and Rotary Youth Exchange. Throughout May, you’ll find special content related to Youth Service Month.

Participating in a webinar about young leaders
Register for the webinar, Youth Service Month: Funding, Elevating, and Integrating Young Leaders, to learn directly from members of Rotary’s Youth Advisory Council about:

How young people receive support and funding within Rotary
How Rotarians are champions for young people and amplify youth perspectives
How Rotary events can foster meaningful collaboration across generations

Register to attend the webinar, being held Wednesday, 14 May, at 09:00 Chicago time (UTC-5).
The webinar will be available in English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Everyone who registers will receive a recording of the event.

Unlock the potential of your young leaders

Do you remember your first Rotary event — the inspiration, the opportunities, the excitement? Invite the young leaders you work with to be inspired at Rotary events. Unlock their true potential with leadership and skill-building activities to enhance their engagement in Rotary.

The RI Board of Directors is encouraging clubs and districts to support the attendance of young leaders at local, district, regional, and international Rotary conferences. Read the Board decision and think about how to do this with Interactors, Rotary Youth Exchange students, RYLA participants, and alumni in your club or district. If you have questions, write to youngleaders@rotary.org.

There are so many examples of how young people feel more connected after taking part in a Rotary event. Kevin Gomes is a Youth Exchange student who had the opportunity to attend and co-host the Youth Exchange Officers Preconvention in Singapore. Making connections at this event strengthened his understanding of Rotary and reinforced his belief in the program and its ability to create a better world.

Learn more about Kevin’s experiences.

Interactors are Essential Makers

For the Interact Club of Lotus Valley International School in Noida, India, serving in the community means manufacturing menstrual pads. Since 2018, this club has produced an average of 350-400 pads per month to distribute across villages, community health centers, orphanages, and schools.

Learn more about the process

Join the introduction to Rotary Youth Exchange sessions!

The Youth Exchange Officers Preconvention meeting brings together leaders of the Rotary Youth Exchange program to connect with friends, share ideas, and make connections for future exchanges. This year in Calgary, for the first time, we’re hosting sessions designed to help you learn the essentials of how to support Rotary Youth Exchange.

These new sessions (presented in English) are perfect for anyone who’s new to Rotary Youth Exchange or wants to build their knowledge of the program.

Topics you’ll explore:

Introduction to Rotary Youth Exchange: Learn directly from Rotary International staff members about the types of exchanges, district certification, and youth protection.
How to build a successful Youth Exchange program: Understand the key elements of a successful Rotary Youth Exchange program including organizing volunteers, leaders, and funding.
Guidelines for sending a Youth Exchange student abroad: Identify what it takes to select a great student ambassador for an exchange and find the best option for their host country and district.
Guidelines for hosting a Youth Exchange student: Use what you learn in this session to not only find host families in your district but retain them year after year.

This separate, ticketed event takes place 20-21 June 2025, just before the Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada. Tell your friends about the preconvention and invite them to attend as well. Don’t miss this amazing chance to grow, learn, and have fun!

Service is inseparable from Rotary youth programs. Whether it’s Rotary Youth Exchange students fundraising for local or international causes or Interactors planning and completing service projects, young people volunteering and serving others is fundamental to Rotary’s youth programs. Youth Service Month is once a year, but youth service through Rotary never stops.

Rotary International strives to create and maintain a safe environment for all youth who participate in Rotary activities. To the best of their ability, Rotary members, their partners, and other volunteers must safeguard the children and young people with whom they come into contact and protect them from physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.

Rotary International takes all youth protection allegations seriously. You can report any concern at any time by using the blue Report a Youth Protection Concern button on the Youth Protection page.

LEARN MORE