Interact is a service club for young people under the sponsorship of Rotary. Its members are between 14-18 years old or of high school age, and Interact gives young people the opportunity to joyfully participate in meaningful service projects. Interactors develop their leadership abilities and make new friends during these activities. Interactors can access many resources of International Rotary (UR) and the Rotary Foundation. International Rotary provides administrative support for the development of Interact clubs. While UR President Harold T. Thomas was traveling the world during his term in 1959-60, he discovered that the opinion that Rotary's potential for developing youth service was not fully understood had spread widely and extensively among Rotarians. In 1960, Thomas appointed a committee of 5 Rotarians to investigate the matter, and two years later, 23 students at Melbourne High School in Melbourne, Florida, USA came together to form the first Interact club. The word Interact means "International Action" and today, approximately 200,000 young people in 8,700 clubs from more than 110 countries make Interact a completely international phenomenon. Young people have spread friendship and international understanding throughout the world with the extensive equipment of Interact service activities.

Interactors learn from service activities;

• Developing their leadership abilities and personal integrity
• Showing kindness and respect towards others
• Understanding the importance of personal responsibilities and hard work
• Learn the importance of developing international understanding and goodwill

How Did Interact Join the Rotary Family?

International Rotary is a worldwide service organization with over 31,000 Rotary Clubs and more than 1.2 million members, consisting of leading business and professional women and men in their fields. Interact clubs are self-supporting, self-governing, but receive guidance from their sponsoring Rotary club. This sponsorship is the result of Rotary's belief that young people or New Generations should actively engage with community life and find opportunities for professional development. The establishment of an Interact club is one of the most rewarding activities a Rotary club can undertake in its community. The Interact program gives Rotarians the opportunity to mentor young girls and boys, provided they are interested in both their own community and the global community. Rotarians act as guides to help Interactors become professional and community leaders. In turn, an Interact club can bring new energy to a Rotary club, inspire new ideas for service, increase support for projects, and create future Rotarians.

The goal of international service within Interact is to encourage, help develop, and advance the multiplication of international understanding, goodwill, and peace among the world group of young people united in the ideal of service. Interact clubs organize various projects and activities based on the interests of club members. However, within the Interact program, all clubs undertake activities to develop leadership abilities, serve their communities, and advance international understanding. Together, these activities provide important experiences and opportunities for each Interactor's personal development while creating a balanced club program. Service Above Self is Rotary's most important guiding principle. Interact club service projects are designed to improve quality of life at home and in the environment. These projects often target very important issues of today such as violence, drug use, AIDS, hunger, environment, and ignorance. Each Interact club must complete at least two projects per year, one aimed at community service and the other helping to develop international understanding. Each project must be implemented with the participation of all or the majority of club members.