ROTAMIRROR MARCH ISSUE RotaMirror, March Issue 2019, Rct Club of Kololo | Page 9

Young people can make their mark through
Rotary
The desire to give back, become involved in your community, create
connections, and use one’s skills to benefit others is a cornerstone of civil
society. But how can young people find these opportunities while facing
the challenges of a widening skills gap, lost personal connections through
digital isolation, and an uncertain future?
Let me begin with a description of a young person who may sound familiar.
A young person alone in a big city. A young person looking for friendship,
looking for connections with other professionals from diverse backgrounds.
A young person looking to make an impact but unsure where to begin.
That man was Paul Harris, Rotary’s founder.
By
John Hewko,
Rotary International General
Secretary
Back in 1905 when Paul started the organization we know today, he was
only 36 years old.
He certainly had that spirit of youthful innovation that we must try to
emulate. Because, to those early Rotary members in the first Rotary club
in Chicago, Rotary was like an oasis in the desert.
And over a century later, our Rotaractors are part of a generation that
grapples with its own challenges and deserts, in a world of increasing
social and political upheavals.
Many graduated during a global economic depression, and perhaps had
to struggle to get that first job or pay off student loans.
Many have witnessed rising social inequality and political polarization.
Many are disenchanted with business practices that don’t meet our high
ethical standards.
It is not time to lose hope – because we want Rotary to be your oasis in the
desert. A place where new ideas can be explored, friendships are made,
opportunities are realized, and your talents are used to improve lives.
The Chicago in which Rotary was born is not so different from the
environment we exist in today. Paul Harris experienced first-hand the
struggle between the forces for positive social change and the aggression
of a fast-growing city. It was a place of stark contrasts, between astonishing
wealth, abject poverty and high unemployment.
But innovators like Paul, looking at first for nothing more than friendship
and business connections, began to turn the corner. What started as a
fellowship of four people grew into a large and thriving service organization
of 1.2 million members and nearly 200,000 Rotaractors who carried out
111 million volunteer hours of work last year in communities at home and
around the world.
The myth that Rotary cannot be a place for young people to make their
mark on the world is just that – a myth. Through Rotary, you are able
to create lasting connections, discover new experiences, and make a
positive impact.
ROTAMIRROR March Issue 2019
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