Youth Service: Rotary’s Fifth Avenue of Service

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DIC Cess Encabo

“Our vision for the future, now more than ever, is the difference between success and failure. The New Generations are our investment in the future. Let us begin to build that future today.”

These are the words of Past RI President Luis Vicente Giay at the 1996 RI Convention in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. PRIP Giay who also coined the term New Generations believed that the future of Rotary relied on involving young people in Rotary’s programs and activities.

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New Generations later renamed to Youth Service in 2013 became Rotary’s fifth avenue of service in 2010. It is defined in article 5 of the Standard Rotary Club Constitution:

Youth Service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, involvement in community and international service projects, and exchange programs that enrich and foster world peace and cultural understanding. Rotary clubs should be committed to involving youth and young adults in their vocational, community, and international service projects, and to providing programs and resources that support them.

The district’s Youth Service Committee led by DCC Juanito “Boy” Kaw is committed in providing an avenue not only for the youth but for the Rotary Clubs as well to know more about the Youth Service program of Rotary. To kick off the start of the new Rotary Year, the committee organized a virtual seminar for all Rotary Youth Service Directors and Interact Club Advisers last July 10, 2021.

The seminar entitled, “All for the Youth” aims to provide information about the Youth Protection Program Policies of Rotary International as well as an avenue for the participants to connect and collaborate with one another. Among the speakers are District Interact Representative John Paul Cabrera who humbly shared his Interact experience, DISAC Chair PDRR Erica Paywan – Florendo who discussed about the roles and responsibilities of Interact Club Advisers and the Chair for Youth Protection Policy, Rtn. Alden Jerome Mamaril who talked about the Youth Protection Program.

The said event was participated by around 170 Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Interact Club Advisers. The District Executive Committee led by District Governor Robert Koa also attended the said event. It only signifies the district’s full support to the youth program of the organization.

The All for the Youth seminar was made possible through the joint effort of the host club, the Rotary Club of Metro Escolta and 33 co-host clubs.