Interact

Interact is Rotary International's service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting.

 WHY YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN INTERACT

Through Interact, young people experience the power of service, discover new cultures, and promote international understanding while developing leadership skills and making new friends. 

With the support of sponsor clubs and committed advisers, Interact members:

• Take the lead. Interactors shape their clubs, planning and implementing everything from service projects to leadership development programs to social activities. Interactors can tailor their clubs to members’ interests and community needs. In the process, they develop lifelong leadership skills.
• Learn the value of service. In choosing, planning, implementing, and reflecting on their service projects, Interactors learn about service and the enormous impact that Rotary members and other volunteers can make. Their service can create real and lasting change.
• Become global citizens. When they join an Interact club, young people become part of the global community, connecting with other young leaders from around the world, gaining a deeper understanding of international events, and forging new friendships.

 WHY ADULTS SERVE AS SPONSORS AND ADVISERS

Adults who serve as Interact sponsors and advisers believe in young
people’s power to do good. They realize that they can have a positive
impact on Interactors who are developing skills, interests, and
community connections. Sponsors and advisers:

• Provide a safe environment where young people can feel supported as they find their voices
• Mentor and support Interactors as they design the club’s structure and set its goals
• Guide and coach members through service projects
• Expand opportunities for young people, facilitating connections both in the community and around the world

In doing so, sponsors and advisers:

• Grow personally and professionally as facilitators and leaders
• Discover new perspectives as they learn from Interactors
• Achieve a sense of accomplishment by empowering young
  people
• Create positive change in their communities and around the world.

District 5190 will be providing support through District-wide service projects that Interactors and their Advisors can plug into. These are hands-on, meaningful service programs and two of them are International in scope

• Crutches4Africa - "Repurposing mobility equipment to challenged people worldwide, for free! Now at 212,000 recipients provided for(and even more lives changed).  
  
  Our Mission: collecting, shipping, and distributing mobility devices.  We collect used and surplus mobility devices*, ship them to developing countries, and distribute them ~ free ~ to people with physical mobility challenges regardless of their race, gender, tribe, age, or religion. District 5190 will be adopting this global service project created by District 5495. Interactors will collect wheelchairs, crutches, rollators,  ankle boots, walkers, canes, walkers, wheelchairs, leg braces, knee braces, prosthetic legs, air casts, baby jogging strollers, bicycle trailers, ski poles, etc to an African nation. Typically  3,000 pieces of equipment fit in a shipping container. 
  
  This is a hands-on project for Interactors and each item saves a person and keeps these materials out of our landfills. Our goal is to send a shipment this fiscal year. (brochure attached)
   
• Schisto fundraiser - 80 million children are affected with Schistosomiasis every year. What is Schistosomiasis? A parasitic disease that can enter the body and infect the brains and other organs of individuals, causing motor impairment, learning disabilities, and often even death. Schisto makes the polio vaccine ineffective!! It costs $2 for each life saving pill sent to Africa. Interactors will fundraise for this hands-on project. (brochures attached)
   
• District 5190 Hygiene Kits - Rotarians Paula Dolliver and Karen Shimamoto developed this highly successful hygiene kit program for REGL. Interactors fundraise to build hygiene kits (Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Comb, Soap, Shampoo/conditioner, Wet washcloths packets (2), Pair of socks, Small stuffed animal, and a Handwritten Note of encouragement). Of course, hygiene kits (bags) can be tailored to the individual’s needs you are looking to help, whether children, women, homeless, or emergency shelters across our District. 

Additional information is available in Links on the left side of this page:

INTERACT CHAIR

EMAIL DAVE