About Rotaract

Who are we and what are we doing?

Who is Rotaract?

Rotaract is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to having a positive impact on society. It is a global network of young people who are passionate about helping others and making meaningful change.

At its core, Rotaract is about empowering people to put their ideas into action. Whether organizing local volunteer opportunities, developing sustainable projects or participating in international exchange programs, Rotaract Germany offers its members the tools, resources and support they need to make a difference.

Through its programs and initiatives, Rotaract Germany helps deepen cultural understanding, build relationships across borders and promote leadership skills. Rotaract is the perfect platform for you to make a real difference in the world.

So, what are you waiting for? Join Rotaract near you today and become part of a vibrant, dynamic and inspiring community that transforms one project at a time. With your passion, energy and commitment, together we can create a better world for everyone.

Our Motto

Help

We want to help wherever help is needed.

Learn

Active learning plays a big role at Rotaract.

Celebrate

Rotaract is fun and creates friendship.

Learn More

Helping begins in everyday life for every person, but as a club we also want to support others together. Whether in our neighborhood, across Germany or internationally – there is enough to do:

play with sick children or organize holiday camps
make time for older people
Build playgrounds
Support those in need with donation packages
Organize global joint fundraising events
Provide disaster relief on site

Every person can use help and every person can provide help. Both sides are happy and come closer to each other.

Learn More

Learning means continuing to educate yourself, broadening your horizons and thinking outside the box, but also getting to know each other. Whether unusual jobs and hobbies, travel, art and culture or socio-political topics – there is something interesting for everyone:

Lectures from members or external speakers
Company visits
Management training, seminars or workshops
Concerts, museums or theater visits
Germany, Europe or world conferences

We also promote cultural exchange and understanding through club sponsorships and mutual visits.

LEarn More

At joint events, parties and trips there are many opportunities to talk to a wide variety of people. You get to know and appreciate each other. Strangers become friends, often for life. No matter where you are in the world, there is always something going on somewhere and Rotaractors are nearby. You are always a welcome guest at various events:

Club and charity events
Cocktail evenings
BBQ parties
Anniversary celebrations
Traveling to partner clubs abroad

Growing together, making friends and being able to rely on others – that’s what counts at Rotaract.

Who is Rotaract?

Our Motto

HELP

We want to help wherever help is needed.

Learn more

Helping begins in everyday life for every person, but as a club we also want to support others together. Whether in our neighborhood, across Germany or internationally – there is enough to do:

play with sick children or organize holiday camps
make time for older people
Build playgrounds
Support those in need with donation packages
Organize global joint fundraising events
Provide disaster relief on site

Every person can use help and every person can provide help. Both sides are happy and come closer to each other.

LEARN

Active learning plays a big role at Rotaract.

LEarn More

Lectures from members or external speakers
Company visits
Management training, seminars or workshops
Concerts, museums or theater visits
Germany, Europe or world conferences

We also promote cultural exchange and understanding through club sponsorships and mutual visits.

CELEBRATE

Rotaract is fun and creates friendship.

Learn More

Club and charity events
Cocktail evenings
BBQ parties
Anniversary celebrations
Traveling to partner clubs abroad

Growing together, making friends and being able to rely on others – that’s what counts at Rotaract.

Social Engagement

Rotaract has many helping hands, no distance is too far. Whether in our neighborhood, across Germany or internationally – there is enough to do. Rotaract clubs play an active role in international efforts for peace and friendship around the world. Although this active participation begins at the local level, it knows no boundaries.

The best reward for this: people who are happy.

Learn More

As diverse as Rotaract’s members are, we are also diverse in our creativity in developing new projects. New social projects are always being developed and ideas implemented. Together we are strong and can achieve a lot. A small gesture often has a great meaning for the other person. Many people live as marginalized social groups and want to help them. Every person is the same, but not everyone is equally well off. All clubs support regional projects, but help is also provided beyond national borders. Together we build and renovate playgrounds, paint daycare centers and schools, read to older people or sing together, go to the theater, musicals or cinema with disabled people, collect food donations for food banks and much more.

GERMANY-WIDE PROJECTS

Each Rotaract club decides independently about its club program and social projects. There is never a lack of ideas and cool activities. Nevertheless, there are some projects that are supported by all clubs throughout Germany.

KidsCamp

Learn More

The KidsCamp offers children the opportunity to experience a varied and free short holiday in a tent camp away from everyday life. Urlaubskinder eV organizes a total of 16 KidsCamps together with Rotaract and Rotary Clubs in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. You can find out more about this project here: Urlaubskinder eV

Buy one more

LEarn More

This is without a doubt one of the favorite activities of the German Rotaract clubs. Whether for the local food bank, for the animal shelter or for another fundraising purpose – food and hygiene products are regularly collected as part of a “buy one more” campaign.

Deckel gegen Polio

Learn more

Rotaract members around the world have been involved in the fight against polio for over 30 years. Many German clubs diligently collect plastic lids all year round so that vaccinations against polio can continue to be financed. More about it: Lid on it eV

more project Examples

Our History

Although Rotary International has supported organizations for young adults since the early 1920s, Rotaract was not officially incorporated as a program until the 1960s. The decision came at a time when global student protests were causing growing concern among Rotary clubs. The enormous potential and motivation of young adults should be channeled into activities that could benefit society. The first Rotaract Club was ceremoniously founded by Rotary International President Luther Hodges on March 13, 1968 in North Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Over the course of just a few decades, the Rotaract program grew into a strong, global network that today unites young people in over 155 countries.

Bild: © Rotary Charlotte North, The Rotarian June 1968

1968

Rotary International establishes the first Rotaract club in the US state of North Carolina. Clubs in Mexico, Italy and India followed in the same year. The first Rotaract club in Germany was founded on March 13, 1968, the RAC Marburg. The photo shows the founding members of the first Rotaract Club at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, planting a tree in 1968.

Bild: © Rotaract Club Marburg

1971

The first German-French Rotaract club friendship was established; the RAC Marburg invited friends of the RAC Aix-en-Provence to the city in May 1971. During this visit to the club, friendships were formed that still exist today.

1978

Rotaractors across Germany founded a common contact and information point in order to better provide and distribute information within the clubs and districts.

Bild: © Cosmin Piitu

1981

Rotaract had become so popular that the Rotaractors in South Africa decided to invite people to the first INTEROTA conference, an international meeting. Subsequently, such conferences were held every three years. The photo shows the German delegation at Interota 2017 in Taipei.

Bild: © Bernhard Kulisch

1989

At the German level, an official “Rotaract Germany Committee” (DAS) was founded, which was the highest body and brought together the common contact and information point. One of the first projects of the DAS was the publication of the Rotaract NEWS as a monthly magazine.
The photo shows a later DAS meeting.

1992

In March, World Rotaract Week (WRW) was launched by the Rotary International Board of Directors. This is celebrated annually during the week of March 13th to commemorate the founding of the first Rotaract Club. The photo shows the social campaign “BeeAlive” from WRW 2019.

Bild: © Privat

2000

Former Federal President Roman Herzog visits the German Conference in Esslingen as a keynote speaker.

Bild: © Felix Heintz

2004

A new basic order was established at the Germany Conference. In addition, the working methods of the Germany Committee were also restructured. The highest body is renamed the “Rotaract Germany Committee (RDK)”.

Bild: © Felix Heintz

2006

After two years of collaboration with various Rotaract and Rotary leaders, the Rotaract Germany Committee founded the “Förderverein der Rotaract Clubs deutscher Districte eV” as an independent administration.

2008

Rotaract celebrates 40 years of social commitment and countless national and international aid campaigns.

2008

The first KidsCamp was launched by Rotaract in May 2008 in Heilbronn to mark Rotaract’s fortieth birthday. The KidsCamp is a project for children who deserve a vacation where the children spend a few days away from everyday life and possible worries. They should experience joy, team spirit and friendship. We work particularly towards passing on humanistic values and increasing social skills. The project has grown continuously since 2008; in 2019 there were 15 KidsCamps in German-speaking countries with more than 1,000 children.

2009

Rotaract is growing and growing: over 160 Rotaract clubs in Germany now follow the motto “Learn – Help – Celebrate”.

2010

A lot of work, a lot of sweat, little sleep: After a long-term development process, Rotaract Germany is introducing a real technical innovation for all members – the internal administration system “meinRotaract”.

2014

Incoming Rotary International President Gary C. Huang attends the Germany Conference.

2018

The 30th Rotaract Germany Conference will take place in Cologne. Acting President of Rotary International Ian Riseley will be a guest.

2018

In August 50 years of Rotaract will be celebrated in Marburg.

2019

At the Rotaract Germany Conference in Munich, Rotaract Germany eV is officially founded and the basic rules are replaced by statutes. In addition, the IT landscape was restructured; the IT department was divided into the support and IT development departments.

2019

The Rotary International Convention is in Hamburg with more than 25,000 visitors from all over the world. Rotaract Germany is represented with a stand and the German Rotaract members experienced a week of international Rotary projects right on their doorstep.

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