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.
The Ursula Frayne Catholic College Interact Club is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ascot. Club membership varies greatly with boys and girls from year 9 to year 12.
Each year, the Interact club aims to complete at least two community service projects, one of which furthers international understanding and goodwill. Through these efforts, Interactors develop a network of friendships with local and overseas clubs and learn the importance of:
- Developing 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.
Interact is one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 10,700 clubs in 109 countries and geographical areas. Interact has become a worldwide phenomenon. Almost 200,000 young people are involved in Interact.
In recent years some of the Club’s activities included:
- Visiting people in local nursing homes;
- Providing gift boxes of toiletries, writing paper, books, toys and colouring pencils for under privileged children around the world;
- Assisting with the Ascot Rotary Club’s quiz night;
- Making blankets for needy people; and
- Collecting the ring pulls off drink cans to be recycled into prosthetic limbs for people in other countries.
Students participating in Interact also learn valuable lessons including such things as:
- Interact traditions and practice;
- Making contacts with Rotarians;
- Meeting protocols;
- Leadership through roles such as president, treasurer and secretary;
- Organising and managing people and projects; and
- Working together as a team.
Participation in Interact is a fantastic opportunity to meet some awesome people while helping those people less fortunate than ourselves. It is also a great opportunity to fulfil the hours of Christian Service Learning.