Interact Clubs

Background to Interact 

Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people aged 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting. In Great Britain and Ireland it is not unusual for Interact membership to begin in Year 7 so therefore the young person may be 11 years old, Other examples are, if the student body at a school is for ages 10-13, then members of the Interact club could be ages 10-13 at the school. This is acceptable as it links as a natural progression within the family of Rotary from RotaKids to Interact. 

The name Interact is derived from two words - International Action 

The 1st Interact club was chartered in Melbourne, Florida, USA in 1962. There are over 10,700 clubs in 109 different countries, with over 200,000 members.  

Club membership varies greatly. Clubs can be large or small, draw from the student body of a single school or from two or more schools in the same community or can be community based, for example within a youth group. 

Objectives 

Interact exists to provide opportunities for young people to work together, dedicated to service and understanding. It develops leadership skills and self-confidence through teamwork and doing things for others: 

• Give service to the community and international service.
• To encourage and practice thoughtfulness and helpfulness.
• Build respect for rights of others, based on recognition of the worth of individuals.
• Develop personal integrity.
• Advance international understanding and goodwill.
• To promote opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding of local and world affairs.
• Demonstrate helpfulness and respect for others.
• Understand the value of individual responsibility and hard work.

An INTERACT INFORMATION PACK is available to dowload here and further help advice is available for  anyone interested in setting up a new Interact Club, just contact Tony Beckett on the contact form below.