International

Understanding Tutorial
 Rotaract International Understanding’s Tutorial

Table of Contents
1. Introduction ……………………………………………….……………………… 2
2. What Is International Understanding Committee ..….……………………….. 2
3. The role of the International Director …….………….………………………… 3
4. Social Events …………………………..………………………………………… 4
5. International Contacts ....……………….……………………………………….. 4
6. RotaractNet …………………………………...…………………………………. 4
7. Rotaract Couch ………………………………………………………………….. 5
8. International Fundraising Projects …………………………………………….. 5
9. Rotaract Twin Club Tips ………………………………………………………... 5
10. Rotary Showcase ……………………………………………………………...... 7
11. Rotary Ideas ……………………………………………………………………... 7
12. Old Rotary foundation grants and programs …………………………………. 8
13. Rotary Foundation and Rotary International grants and programs ………... 8
14. Rotary International Presidential Citations …………………………………… 12

1. Introduction

This guide has been produced by Rtr. Nael El Menshawy, After Reading, Editing, Adding, Simplifying
and Collecting a lot of data from RI and different Resources to provide advice on being a Rotaract
International Understanding & Peace Promoting Director.

This pack is not a definitive guide to being an International Understanding Director and you should
always work closely with your predecessor.

2. What Is International Understanding Committee

With over 7,600 Rotaract clubs in more than 158 countries the International Service
Committee is tasked with connecting these clubs together by spreading international
understanding, goodwill and peace. This committee extends all the ideals of Rotaract
beyond the local club reaching across regional and international borders spreading
friendship, the exchange of ideas, and the sharing of cultural diversity.

Through International Service Rotaractors have the unique opportunity to grow

individually, as a club by interacting and corresponding with each other, sharing
experiences, and collaborating on joint projects. Every Rotaract club is comprised of
members of different social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds from the next club. This
lends to the great diversity, which is Rotaract as young men, and women of all walks of
life are welcome. As a result each club is faced with unique challenges and their
approach to these challenges varies from club to club. By corresponding and
collaborating however clubs may learn that not all of their challenges are unique and that
other clubs may already have solutions for some of the problems they face.
3. The role of the International Director

Rotaract is an International organization; however, this aspect of Rotaract often gets

overlooked. There are many ways in which you can introduce an International flavor to
your Club.

Rotaractors around the world have a unique opportunity to learn about other cultures
and foster goodwill through the global family of Rotaract. This partnership can involve
establishing a pen-pal/e-mail relationship, arranging Rotaractor visits, exchanging
project ideas, and undertaking small international or community service projects.
Rotaract clubs considering such a venture can choose a partner that shares similar
interests, challenges, or language capabilities. Rotaractors can also correspond with
clubs located in an area of geographical interest.

The International Officer organizes events with an international theme to broaden the
horizons of Club members in terms of other cultures. It is also your responsibility to keep
the club informed of the progress of any on-going project as this will keep the members
involved and interested.

The International Service Committee is also responsible for:

 Enhancing the club's knowledge of global needs, problems, and opportunities.

 Develop programs and activities that promote international understanding and

goodwill towards all people.

 Expose club members and the community at large to the cultures of other
countries and the practices of the clubs in those countries.

 Exchanging ideas and seeking common solutions to challenges with other clubs.

 Liaising with the International Service Committees of other clubs in the district
and beyond.

 Keeping the club informed of the activities of other clubs in the district, and in turn
informing the district of the activities of the club.

Examples of International Service Projects include:

 Establish a twin-club relation.

 Undertake a small joint international or community service project.

 Participate in a friendship exchange by arranging Rotaractor visits.

 Observe a mutual day or weekend to celebrate a twining partnership.

 Exchange project or club program ideas.

 Hold a videoconference or web-based meeting.

 Exchange handicrafts and local products.

  Start projects celebration recognized international days.

 Celebrating countries national days.

 Establish an International service project.

4. Social Events
There are many different social events you can do with an international theme here are
just a few examples you can implement:
 Themed evenings e.g. meals at foreign food restaurants, holding a Eurovision
Song Contest Party – enjoying a buffet of food from all over the world, in fancy
dress from other countries, a sweepstake for the winning country could all be part
of this.
 Quizzes about other Cultures
 Day trips or weekends away to Euro Disney, Paris, Holland, or other nearby
countries.
 A themed disco – could be held as a District Event with each club dressing up as
natives from a particular country.
 Global Village – each team consists of a specific number of people choose a
country to represent using their food recipes, culture activities ….etc.

5. International Contacts
Your club may want to find out more about another Club in another part of the world, this
can lead to joint projects, newsletters, visits etc.
You can find details about foreign clubs via Rotary, Rotary International Directory,
Rotaract District 2451 International Understanding and Peace Promoting Director, The
Med MDIO Country Representative, Rotary International (www.rotary.org).
If your Rotary Club is twinned with a foreign Club they may be able to provide details of
the corresponding Rotaract Club for you to link with.

6. RotaractNet
Rotaractnet is a yahoo group comprising over 2100 members from 102 countries.
Neither membership nor posts are moderated, to allow all Rotaractors the ability to
communicate easily. Messages can be posted in any language.
To join, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rotaractnet/ and click on Join This Group
and follow the instructions in the grey box on the right hand side of the page.
We recommend you sign up for the daily digest then all emails will be sent to you
contained within one e-mail (otherwise you could get up to 10 different emails a day!).
7. Rotaract Couch
This is a group created by the Rotaract Club of NILE PALACE from Cairo - Egypt, for
Rotaractors ALL OVER THE WORLD, known by other Rotaractors to share hosting
information, If you are planning to travel somewhere you will find a great hospitality from
Rotaractors all over the world, If you need a place to stay, New people to meet, A tour to
have, Any Help; This is the right group to ask at.
To join, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/rotaractcouch/ and click on Join This
Group.
8. International Fundraising Projects
There are many projects in this area that clubs can get involved with, such as:
 Collecting redundant spectacles and sending them to the Developing World for
re-use via Vision Aid.
 Holding a one-off charity event such as a quiz and send aid to an International
charity or disaster fund.
 Buy a Rotary Shelter Box (www.shelterbox.org)
 Buy a Rotary Aqua Box (www.aquabox.org/index.htm)
 Take part in the Rotary Shoebox Scheme (www.rotary1280.org/shoebox)

9. Rotaract Twin Club Tips

Twin clubs are two clubs from different Rotary International (RI) countries that have
established strong ties and have agreed to team up to complete a special program, may
it be an International service project, friendship exchange or cultural exchange. Clubs
are invited to register as a part of this activity and are encouraged to undertake a joint
program or project in developing the international understanding.
Goals of Twin Club Relationships
 To emphasize the international aspect of Rotaract service and friendship
 To establish a long-term relationship with another club that will lead to ongoing
projects
 To enhance understanding of another culture and foster goodwill

Determining Club Compatibility

Finding a suitable partner should be a club effort. In the search for a partner, clubs
should first be able to clearly identify their interests, strengths, and weaknesses.
When selecting a partner, consider clubs that:
 Hold similar interests.
 Face similar challenges.
 Possess expertise in an area that their club would like to improve.
 Are located in a geographical region of interest to club members.
 Share a common language or have resources available for
translation/interpretation
 Finding a Partner
After determining the type of club that would be an appropriate match, the next step is to
look for a club that meets the established criteria. Here are a few ideas for finding a
partner:
 Find a partner with the same name as your club’s in the Worldwide Rotaract
Directory (for example: the Rotaract Club Alexandria East, Egypt, and the
Rotaract Club of Moscow East, Russia).
 Enlist the help of your sponsoring Rotary club who may already have an existing
twin club relationship with another Rotary club.
 Contact your international RDC or DRR for assistance.

Establishing a Relationship
Careful planning and clear communication is essential to establishing a strong
relationship. Like any other worthwhile project, Rotaract twin clubs take time and effort.
Ensuring that each club clearly understands its role and responsibilities in the
partnership is the key to formalize the relationship, clubs may wish to sign a simple letter
of agreement, which outlines the goals and length of the partnership. Use your
imagination and collect innovative ideas for building your twin club relationship. Some
ideas for developing a strong relationship include the following:
 Establish a pen pal/e-mail network to correspond with twin club Rotaractors.
 Undertake a small international or community service project.
 Participate in a friendship exchange by arranging Rotaractor visits.
 Observe a mutual day or weekend to celebrate the partnership.
 Exchange project or club program ideas.
 Hold a videoconference or web-based meeting.
 Exchange handicrafts and local products.
 Start an international service project or event.

Reporting Your Twin Club Relationship to RI

If your Rotaract club would like to share details about its successful twin club
relationship, submit a short excerpt (approximately 500 words) to Rotaract. Be sure to
include the names of the Rotaract clubs, district numbers, and contact information for
both clubs. Reporting a Rotaract twin club relationship allows RI to quantify how many
clubs are involved, identify the variety of programs undertaken, share the information
with other Rotaract clubs, and recognize clubs for their accomplishments.

Rotaract Program
Rotary International
1560 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201-3698
USA
Fax: 1.847.866.6116
E-mail: rotaract@rotary.org
10. Rotary Showcase
Rotary Showcase is an online application that allows Rotarians and Rotaractors to share
stories of their clubs’ successful projects with people around the world. In addition,
project stories are a source for features in Rotary International blogs and newsletters.
The Showcase’s Impact Tracker shows the impact of each Rotary project in terms of
volunteers and volunteer hours, cash contributions, and in-kind donations. It also shows
the collective impact of all reported projects.
Success stories posted on Showcase can serve as an inspiration and a model for other
Rotary and Rotaractor clubs.
Go to: Rotary.org/showcase

11. Rotary Ideas

Rotary Ideas has changed the landscape of Crowdsourcing, Rotary Ideas helps clubs
connect for funding, volunteers, partnerships, and in-kind donations. Where once they
had to rely on Rotary to make this connection -- either through ProjectLINK or by phone
or email -- clubs can now post their needs and find projects to support themselves. More
than 83 projects have been featured on Rotary Ideas since it launched in August 2013.
And unlike other crowdfunding sites, such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo, Rotary Ideas
emphasizes partnerships over simply funding.
“Most crowdfunding tools are only about getting money,” says Kristin Brown, service
connections manager at Rotary International. “With Rotary Ideas, we’re expanding that
concept to provide a platform for matching clubs to donors, volunteers, and
partnerships.”

12. Old Rotary foundation grants and programs

 Matching Grants.
 District Simplified Grants.
 Ambassadorial Scholarships.
 Group Study Exchange.

These Four Rotary Foundation grant programs ended 30 June 2013.

13. Rotary Foundation and Rotary International grants and programs

TRF : The Rotary Foundation RI : Rotary International

A. ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE (RI PROGRAM)

WHAT IS A ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE?

Youth Exchange is a study-abroad opportunity for young people who spend

anywhere from a few weeks to a full year as an international student hosted by local
Rotary clubs.
 IS AN EXCHANGE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Exchange types:

 Short term : From 15-19 years It's mainly a cultural tour (few days up to 1
month)
 Long term: From 15-19 years It's mainly about joining school and staying with
host families (Up to 1 year)
 New generations: From 18-25 years It's mainly a cultural tour and my include
some vocational elements (1 week up to 2 months)

Exchanges are for people ages 15–19 or 18-25 who:

 Have demonstrated leadership in their school and community
 Are flexible and willing to try new things
 Are open to cultural differences
 Can serve as an ambassador for their own country

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Costs vary from country to country. Local Rotary clubs generously host students and
provide room and board with a host family and a small monthly stipend. Participants are
generally responsible for:
 Round-trip airfare
 Insurance
 Travel documents (such as passports and visas)
 Spending money, additional travel, and tour fees

HOW CAN YOU APPLY?

Contact your local Rotary club to see if it participates and to learn more about the types
of programs offered, and specific application process required. Because the selection
and orientation process can be lengthy, we suggest you apply 6–12 months before you
plan to leave.

CAN YOU HOST AN EXCHANGE STUDENT?

Hosting an exchange student can be an incredibly rewarding experience for your family,
providing an international experience without leaving home. Host families provide room
and board and share their lives with exchange students, involving them in family,
community, and cultural activities.
B. Rotary peace fellowship (TRF program)

WHAT ARE ROTARY PEACE FELLOWSHIPS?

Each year, Rotary selects individuals from around the world to receive fully funded
academic fellowships at one of our peace centers. These fellowships cover tuition
and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and all internship/field study
expenses. Two types of peace fellowships are available.

 MASTER'S DEGREE
We offer master’s degree fellowships at premier universities in fields related to peace
and conflict resolution and prevention. Programs last 15–24 months and require a
practical internship of 2–3 months during the academic break. Each year we award up to
50 master’s fellowships from these institutions:
 Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, US
 International Christian University, Japan
 University of Bradford, UK
 University of Queensland, Australia
 Uppsala University, Sweden

 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE

For those with more extensive experience in peace-related fields, we offer a 3- month
program in peace and conflict resolution at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok,
Thailand. This program incorporates 2–3 weeks of field study. We award up to 50
certificates each year.

C. DISTRICT GRANTS (TRF grants)

District grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in your
community and communities abroad. Each district chooses which activities it will fund
with these grants.

WHAT THEY SUPPORT?

You can use district grants to fund a variety of district and club projects and activities,
including:
 Humanitarian projects, including service travel and disaster recovery efforts
 Scholarships for any level, length of time, location, or area of study
 Vocational training teams, which are groups of professionals who travel
abroad either to teach local professionals about a particular field or to learn
more about their own.
 HOW TO USE THEM?
You have a lot of freedom to customize your service projects. There aren’t many
restrictions, as long as your district grant supports the mission of The Rotary Foundation.

HOW THEY’RE FUNDED?

Districts may use up to 50 percent of their District Designated Fund to receive one
district grant annually. This percentage is calculated based on the amount of DDF
generated from a district’s Annual Fund giving three years prior, including Endowment
Fund earnings. You aren’t required to request the full amount available.
You’ll receive this funding as a lump sum and then distribute it to your clubs.

HOW CLUBS REQUEST FUNDS?

Clubs work directly with their district to get funding. Your district governor or Rotary
Foundation chair should be able to tell you when to submit a request and whether you’ll
need to meet additional district requirements, such as reporting or training.

D. GLOBAL GRANTS (TRF grants)

Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in
Rotary’s 6 areas of focus (promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water,
saving mothers and children, supporting education and growing local economies).
Grant sponsors form international partnerships that respond to real community needs.

WHAT THEY SUPPORT?

Global grants can fund these activities:
 Humanitarian projects
 Scholarships for graduate-level academic studies (only in Rotary's 6 areas of
focus)
 Vocational training teams, which are groups of professionals who travel abroad
either to teach local professionals about a particular field or to learn more about
their own. (only in Rotary's 6 areas of focus).

HOW TO USE THEM?

A key feature of global grants is partnership, between the district or the club where
the activity is carried out and a district or club in another country.

To be successful in submitting your application, it must:

 Be sustainable and include plans for long-term success after the global grant
funds have been spent
 Include measurable goals
  Align with one of our areas of focus
 Respond to real community needs
 Actively involve Rotarians and community members
 Meet the eligibility requirements in the grants terms and conditions
Applications are accepted throughout the year and reviewed as they are received.

HOW THEY’RE FUNDED?

The minimum budget for a global grant activity is $30,000. The Rotary Foundation’s
World Fund provides a minimum of $15,000 and maximum of $200,000.

E. PACKAGED GRANTS (TRF grants)

Packaged grants are designed by Rotary and its strategic partners.

WHAT THEY SUPPORT?

Like global grants, packaged grants support our 6 areas of focus and can include
scholarships, humanitarian projects, and vocational training. The key difference is that
you already have the framework for the project.
They offer nursing scholarships and training for health educators with our partner Aga
Khan University. With their partner UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, they
fund scholarships for water and sanitation professionals. Vocational training and medical
service teams work with our partner Mercy Ships.

HOW TO USE THEM?

A packaged grant allows you to focus your energy and expertise on bringing the project
to life. Your role could include:
 Assessing community needs and identifying those who could benefit from a
project
 Selecting and mentoring scholars
 Assembling teams of professionals for peer-based training
 Providing technical expertise or direct service
 Promoting and publicizing activities
 Monitoring and evaluating the project
Packaged grant applications are accepted throughout the year and awarded on a first-
come, first-served basis.

HOW THEY’RE FUNDED?

Packaged grants are fully funded by The Rotary Foundation and our strategic partners.
 F. PUBLIC IMAGE GRANTS
Public Image Grants can help you spread the word about Rotary in your community and
raise public awareness for your projects. These grants will reimburse your district for
television, radio, and print ads; outdoor billboards; or online public service announcements.
Any district can apply, either individually or in partnership with another district.
The Rotary foundation is currently remodeling this program and more info will be posted
soon.

14. Rotary International Presidential Citations

Each year the Rotary International President encourages all Rotaract clubs to strive for a
Rotaract Presidential Citation.
To qualify for the citation, Rotaract clubs must complete at least three activities, one of
which must fall under community service and one under international service. The
sponsoring Rotary Club President and the Rotary District Governor must sign the
Rotaract Presidential Citation form. Visit the Rotaract page on the RI website for full
details – www.rotary.org

Produced By: Rtr. Nael EL Menshawy

Club Founder & Adviser
To My Family Rotaract Club of Alexandria Mariout Royal
& Interact Club of Alexandria Mariout