HAVING FUN – MAKING A DIFFERENCE

( Click on title to see Rotakids leaflet)

What is RotaKids?

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RotaKids is a fun and exciting way for children aged 7-12 to make friends and get involved with important activities in the community, all while having a great time in the process.

RotaKids clubs are based in schools, youth groups or community centres and with the help and support from teachers, youth leaders and the local Rotary club, children can gain a valuable experience in helping others and learning interesting, new things.

It also brings an exciting and practical approach to supporting the citizenship element of the national curriculum.

By doing so, children enjoy a boost to their confidence and self-esteem at a key age and develop and understanding of how their actions can impact on others.

Both RotaKids and Interact support the #iwill campaign to create genuine opportunities for young people to generate social change.

Year 4 children at Higham Junior School, Higham Ferrers,(aged 8/9) who filled 25 Rotary shoeboxes.

(Photo courtesy of Northampton Evening Telegraph)

What do RotaKids clubs do?

The great thing about RotaKids is that children can come up with ideas and see them become a reality. The groups can do just about anything which springs to mind to help others.

It shows children that by working together, there is so much you can achieve.

Examples of RotaKids activities include:

• Filling shoeboxes with toys for underprivileged children around the world as part of the Rotary Shoebox Scheme
• Raising money for charities in your area with a sponsored bike ride, non-uniform day, cake sale or school fun days etc
• Supporting the environment by setting a nature project in the school playground or local community
• Collecting books for children in countries around the world
• carrying out Litterpicks around the school

The Class teacher/Youth leader, would discuss ideas with their pupils in their Citizenship lessons which will prompt suggestions and ideas from the children themselves. Then Rotarians make regular visits to support the project. The aim has always been for the youngsters to have fun while they were carrying out the community activity.

The decisions made always involve the RotaKids.  Such as the date, time, place, cost for admission at events, etc.  Then jobs are divided up between the class, with two or three being responsible for producing tickets, another group doing the posters etc. It may be possible to do many of these things in lesson times, such as Art and Design lessons. There can be a high educational value to forming a RotaKids group.

How to get involved

There are over 200 RotaKids clubs across Great Britain and Ireland, all making a difference to the lives of children in their communities.

To set up a RotaKids club in your school, youth group or community centre, please contact the District 1070 Rotakids coordinator Lesley Tyers and we’ll point you in the right direction.

So what are the benefits of running RotaKids?

• For the young people it enlivens the curriculum. 

• They learn about Citizenship and teamwork.

• They use practical maths such as counting money. 

• Making the posters and programmes brings a purpose to their lessons in English and IT, and the production of the event may use their Drama and Technology skills.

• In addition, it is introducing the young people to Rotary ideals at an early age.

• Rota kids can produce good publicity for both the school and the Rotary Club involved.

The RotaKids Pledge

As a RotaKid, I promise

To be fair to all

To serve my community

To show respect for others 

• Some RotaKids Clubs  reward the youngsters who are able to recite the pledge with a RotaKids button badge (see below)

• You could present certificates at the end of the school year to those who have done well over the year. ( these are available from the Rotary District 1070 coordinator)

• But any other forms of rewards you would like to develop can be considered.

Contact: Lesley Tyers, Rotary Club of Loughborough Beacon