Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored international program for young men and women ages 18 to 35 who believe they can make a difference. The Rotaract club provides an opportunity for young adults to enhance the knowledge and skills that will assist them in personal development, to address the physical and social needs of their communities, and to promote better relations between all people worldwide through a framework of friendship and service.
Rotaract was founded in 1968 by Rotary International, a worldwide association of service-minded business and professional leaders. Today there are over 7,500 Rotary-supported Rotaract clubs with more than 130,000 members in some 155 countries around the world.
The term, ROTARACT is derived from the term, ROTARy in ACTion, alluding to Rotary's commitment to promoting world understanding and peace through the development of leadership amongst the youth.
A Rotaract club is more than a community service club. It is part of a global effort to bring peace and international understanding to the world. This effort starts at the community level, but it knows no limits in its outreach. Rotaract clubs organize a variety of projects and activities, depending primarily on the interests of the club members. There are, however, three types of activities within the Rotaract Program that all clubs undertake in varying degrees: professional development, leadership development, and service project development. Together, these areas guarantee a balanced club program and provide important experiences and opportunities for the personal development of each Rotaractor.