A SHORT HISTORY
Interact began in 1962 with the first club initiated by the Rotary Club of Melbourne, Florida, U.S.A. It has grown steadily to more than 4,900 clubs, located in small towns and large cities.
Each Interact Club is self-governing and self-supporting. Each club is sponsored by a Rotary Club. The sponsoring Rotary Club provides advisors and works with others whom the club has obligations (school authorities, teacher advisors, etc.).
INTERACT- THE INTERNATIONAL CLUB
Even the name Interact is a combination of the English words "international " and "action" highlights the international aspect of the programme. There are Interact Clubs in all four corners of the world.
In fact, more than 108,000 young people belonging to Interact live in more than 82 different countries – some in temperate, some in tropical and some in colder regions.
When you belong to a worldwide organization, you are bound to learn some interesting things, such as: what life is in Aanekoski, Finland (latitude 60 degrees north); or along the equator near Mount Kilimanjaro; or “down under” Australia; and what people do on the other part of the world on Saturday nights.
Generally, the conclusion is that people everywhere are amazingly and immensely different.
Interact Clubs send each other a tape, recordings, letters, stamps, books, music and pictures of themselves, among other things. One club puts together an audiovisual of their hometown. Clubs sponsor student exchange and visits. International Understanding becomes more than two words.
Interact has members of every race, creed and all colours committed and working towards the same ideal. While one club in Nairobi, Kenya is transplanting banana trees on the grounds of a home for disabled children, another club in Hong Kong is wrapping up Christmas presents for orphans and a third cutting a road through a swamp in India. Meanwhile in the U.S.A., one club is holding a carnival to raise funds for a programme to rehabilitate young drug addicts.
All these clubs are working towards the same cause – helping the less fortunate. They may be all doing different projects but they are all working towards one goal – meeting human needs.
WHY JOIN INTERACT?
“ I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know; the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found ways to serve,” said Albert Schweitzer. The basic principle of Interact is to serve others. It is one person in co-operation with other persons reaching out to still others.
A person may have a great idea that can be carried out more effectively in a group than by an individual. Interact may be the place for YOUR ideas and may even be the group for YOU.
