About Rotary International

Rotary International is a worldwide service organization for leading business and professional men and women, with more than 1.2 million members in over 33,000 Rotary clubs. Each Rotaract club is sponsored by a local Rotary club (RC). Such cooperation helps Rotaract clubs be an important part of Rotary’s extended family. In this way, Rotary strives to attract young people to participate in community service, as well as provide an opportunity to grow professionally.

The Charter of a Rotaract Club is one of the noblest deeds that Rotary can do for its community. As the Rotaract program gives Rotarians a chance to unite youth, willing to serve their community, country, and world. Members of Rotary are bright examples, sources of inspiration and mentors for the younger generation of leaders. Also, members of Rotaract clubs infuse a fresh spirit into Rotary activities, inspire distinguished colleagues with new ideas, support their projects and join Rotary clubs in the future.

The first Rotary meeting was held on February 23, 1905 in Chicago, USA. Shortly after, the ideas of service spread out around the world, and now Rotary clubs operate in more than 200 countries. Rotary members are volunteers who serve their communities, support high ethical standards and promote international understanding. Particularly, Rotarians help combat such negative issues as poverty, sicknesses, hunger, illiteracy and environmental pollution. Every year Rotary gives over 200 grants for securing work of Rotarian volunteers, who travel to the places where their expertise and knowledge are in the biggest want.

Rotary helps to promote understanding by means of international scholarships, exchange programs and humanitarian grants. Since 1947, around 35,000 students from 110 countries studied beyond their home countries on Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships. Rotary Group Study Exchanges helped more than 45,000 young specialists get experience in their professional areas of interest in other countries. As of October 1, 2008 District 2230 comprises 120 clubs – 4 clubs in Belarus, 72 clubs in Poland and 42 clubs in Ukraine. The number of Rotarians in Ukraine and Belarus is 850 people.