Youth Programs- Rotaract Interact - RYLA

In the belief that the ideals of Rotary – cooperative fellowship and community service – should be communicated to the younger generation, and that the community will benefit from service efforts by younger people, the Hanover Rotary Clubs sponsors a number youth initiatives.  We hope that the youth programs will stimulate interest and encourage active lifetime participation in Rotary and its philanthropic programs.  The Club takes many initiatives to encourage youth development, such as its sponsorship of participants in regional debate programs.  The following three organizational programs deserve special mention.

 Rotaract

Hanover Rotary sponsors The Rotaract Club at Dartmouth College, an organization for young adults between 18 and 30 years of age.  The focus of the club is to identify volunteer opportunities for its members in the greater Hanover community and to take advantage of the professional expertise of the Hanover Rotary.  This includes a mentoring program which pairs Rotaract members with Rotarians based on employment interest and panel discussions focusing on specific occupations.   Rotaractors are welcome to attend weekly Rotary meetings as well as monthly Rotary Board meetings and they may serve on event committees.  

Interact 

Hanover Rotary sponsors the Interact Club at the Hanover High School.  The objectives of Interact are comparable to those of Rotaract.   The program is mentored by Rotary Members who teach or act as administrators in the High School.  Students in Interact are invited to participate in community activities sponsored by Rotary in which teenager participation is appropriate.  

RYLA

The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary's leadership training program for young people. Rotary District 7850, in which Hanover Rotary participates, focuses on students who are completing their freshman or sophomore year of high school (approximately 14-16 years of age).  The award allows them to attend a weekend regional leadership training program staged in a conference hotel. The objective of the weekend program is to encourage leadership, citizenship, and personal growth, and aims to expose participating youngsters to Rotary's values of service, high ethical standards, and world peace.  We also hope to encourage and assist young people in responsible and effective voluntary youth leadership by providing them with a valuable training experience.  Hanover Rotary selects participants with the help of the faculty at the Hanover High School.