Youth Projects

We are committed to finding ways to provide opportunities for young people to develop their skills and broaden their horizons. We do this by organising competitions like Young Writer, Young Chef, Technology Tournament and Young Musician. We also provide young people with opportunities to develop their leadership potential and arrange outings for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and help set up Interact Clubs where young children can come together to share ideas and pursue matters of collective interest.

Young Writer

The Young Writer Competition is a well-established competition promoted by Rotary International in Britain and Ireland. The competition gives young people from across the Isles the opportunity to express themselves through writing and embrace their creativity. It’s one of several youth competitions offered by Rotary Great Britain & Ireland. Each year, the participants are provided with a theme to focus on the challenge is to produce a piece of fiction or non-fiction prose or a poem based on the theme. Local and district heats are organised by the clubs before being whittled down to the selection that is.

Youth Leadership Development

Youth Leadership Development is targeted to help young people gain exposure to leadership scenarios, explore problem-solving strategies as part of a team, discuss and apply creative approaches to leadership and conflict management, build confidence in yourself and what you can achieve, meet new people and make lasting friendships and learn how to arrange youth activities and community service projects at locally and internationally.

Being a leader is not just about being confident enough to speak out and knowing what to say, it is knowing when to listen to others and understand. The programme teaches this, and other soft skills, to help everyone to be the best they can be. Teamwork exercises bring people together from different walks of life in a safe environment where everyone can get to know each other without fear of exclusion or negativity.

Youth Leadership Development

Youth Leadership Development is targeted to help young people gain exposure to leadership scenarios, explore problem-solving strategies as part of a team, discuss and apply creative approaches to leadership and conflict management, build confidence in yourself and what you can achieve, meet new people and make lasting friendships and learn how to arrange youth activities and community service projects at locally and internationally.

Being a leader is not just about being confident enough to speak out and knowing what to say, it is knowing when to listen to others and understand. The programme teaches this, and other soft skills, to help everyone to be the best they can be. Teamwork exercises bring people together from different walks of life in a safe environment where everyone can get to know each other without fear of exclusion or negativity.

Technology Tournament

Rotary Technology Tournaments are a challenging and enjoyable way for young people to enrich their STEM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).

Teams of pupils, typically in groups of four, have to solve an interactive Technology-based task and are required to design, develop and build a solution with the materials supplied.

Technology Tournament Roundhay of Rotary-min

Mock Interviews

The Mock Interview Experience is intended to give pupils more familiarity, practice and confidence in presenting themselves well at upcoming interviews for employment or further education. Since the project began in its current format in 2002, over 12,000 year 11 pupils have received mock interviews, with Rotary members giving over 2,500 volunteer hours to make the project a valuable one for the young people who take part.

The interviews allow pupils to be tested on their communication, ability to answer questions, presentation skills as well as giving an opportunity to have their CVs critiqued. For many students, this is their first opportunity to talk formally to someone outside their comfort zone. It helps them to get a good understanding of what to expect when confronted with a real life situation.

Mock Interviews

The Mock Interview Experience is intended to give pupils more familiarity, practice and confidence in presenting themselves well at upcoming interviews for employment or further education. Since the project began in its current format in 2002, over 12,000 year 11 pupils have received mock interviews, with Rotary members giving over 2,500 volunteer hours to make the project a valuable one for the young people who take part.

The interviews allow pupils to be tested on their communication, ability to answer questions, presentation skills as well as giving an opportunity to have their CVs critiqued. For many students, this is their first opportunity to talk formally to someone outside their comfort zone. It helps them to get a good understanding of what to expect when confronted with a real life situation.

Interact

Interact is a fun and lively organisation offering young people aged 12-18 amazing opportunities to broaden their horizons, make new friends and help the lives of others. Interact clubs are based in schools, colleges or in the community, but this is no ordinary club.

Interact is an exciting place where members decide how they would like to help communities at home and abroad. It is the place where ideas flourish and become meaningful social action. Interact supports the #iwill campaign to create genuine opportunities for young people to generate social change. Every Interact club will carry out two service projects each year, one which benefits your local community and one which is international and can make a difference to people right across the world. Service projects are a great way for members to build skills such as communication and leadership, meet new people and develop an understanding for the world we all share. Clubs are run by the members, so you get to take part in exciting, hands on projects around the topics and causes that matter to you. These projects will also help you to connect with other young leaders and get your school or college excited about your club.

In 2021, past President Jean set up an Interact Club at Roundhay High School.