1. York Vikings Rotary Club
RotaKids
York Vikings Rotary Club

2. Introduction to Rotary
We are part of Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI)
There are over 1.2 Million Rotarians who belong to 30,000 Rotary clubs in 168 Countries
Founded in Chicago in 1905

3. The Rotary Family RotaKids – Age 8 - 11 Rotaract – Age 18 - 30
Interact - Age
Rotary – Age 30+

4. What is RotaKids?
The first RotaKids club was set up in the Stuart area of South Florida. The founder was a retired school teacher, Jane Mills. 
There are now clubs being established in Canada, Australia, South Africa and the U.K.
The intention is to create a framework that helps to inform and educate children in the concepts of service & citizenship.
It is a starting point for leadership training with simple hands-on service projects and activities.
The framework will also hopefully assist schools by improving involvement within the community and encouraging volunteering by students, parents, and others.  

5. Primary School Citizenship Programme
What is RotaKids? RotaKids is a Primary School Citizenship programme. The concept is developing fast and it can be developed to suit your Rotary Club and your school. The programme is mainly aimed at the Junior School age group, ages 7–11, which is Years 3-6 in Primary Schools.
Objectives The main objective is to introduce Rotary ideals to young people, as well as addressing citizenship, which is becoming a major theme in schools. As with any Rotary project, you will need helpers - not too many, two or three will be enough - but an interested and willing teacher is the most essential ingredient.  However, these days there is always a teacher responsible for Citizenship in each school, so this would be a good start.
Project Officer not yet appointed
The RotaKids Pledge:
As a RotaKid, I promise:
To be fair to all
To serve my community
To show respect for others

6. RotaKids Club Rewards & Recognition
It will be important to create a sense of belonging and also to recognise achievement.
It is recommended that when a RotaKid can recite the RotaKids Pledge unaided, they are presented with a RotaKids Badge.
After a RotaKid has completed their first Service project, it is recommended that they receive either a RotaKids Tabard or T-shirt.
To recognise RotaKids that have done multiple projects over a period of time it is recommended that they are either given a name badge with different coloured stars or even a wall chart highlighting who has contributed to each project is put up.
This can then be followed up at the end of each term by the award of certificates to students who have done exceptionally well.

7. RotaKids Pledge - Teacher, Parent & Rotarian support
As a RotaKid, I promise
        To be fair to all
        To serve my community
        To show respect for others
During the early days of the club teachers will need to provide a great deal of the leadership with support from Parents and Rotarians.
 As time goes on, some level of control can pass to club members with the election of club officers and committee members which can be used to teach pupils about democracy, participation in government and leadership.

8. RotaKids Objective
The Objective is to help build children's self-esteem by introducing the Rotary concepts of service, understanding and citizenship, to children at an early age. 
The intention is to create a framework that helps to inform and educate children in the concepts of service & citizenship.
It is a starting point for leadership training with simple hands-on service projects and activities.
The framework will also hopefully assist schools by improving involvement within the community and encouraging volunteering by students, parents, and others.

9. Establishing a RotaKids Club (1)
The initial set up and ongoing running of a club is controlled by the school and the sponsoring teachers.
We anticipate that each clubs' make up will be different as some schools may have to focus on an older group of students.
Teachers are the professionals, and are best placed to make the proper evaluation of involvement and activities.
The sponsoring Rotary Club will follow the staff's lead and provide support.

10. Establishing a RotaKids Club (2)
The intention is that a RotaKids club will be open to all races, genders and nationalities.
All efforts should be made to include whoever wants to participate.
A small fee may be charged for participation to cover cost of Tabards / T-shirts, pins or other materials, however expenses or fees shall not be used to exclude any participant from joining the RotoKids Club. 

11. Responsibilities (Rotary)
The Sponsoring Rotary Club / Rotarian - Will work closely with the school to oversee the establishment of the new club.
Participation in events and club meetings will be at the schools discretion.
Financial support is at the discretion of the local Rotary Club, but will include at least one of the following:
Club Tabard
T-shirt
Hat
Badge
Or similar item to provide the club members with identity and feeling of belonging.
The local Rotary Club will also help with arranging speakers etc.

12. Responsibilities (School)
The School / Sponsoring teacher(s) will be responsible for the day to day running of the club.
The school will use it’s discretion to decide on the level of participation by parents and others.
The school will be encouraged to invite Parents to participate in regular activities and projects as well as any special recognition gatherings which will also be supported by the local Rotary Club.

13. Club Structure
During the early days of the club teachers will need to provide a great deal of the leadership with support from Parents and Rotarians.
As time goes on, some level of control can pass to club members with the election of club officers and committee members which can be used to teach pupils about democracy, participation in government and leadership.

14. Potential Projects
Recycling Mobile Phones
Your old mobile phone could help change this
Into This
By collecting old and broken mobile phones you can help countries overseas to develop proper water management systems. The old mobile phones and chargers are sent to a specialist recycling company who donate money to WaterAid for each item received.

15. Potential Projects Recycling Old Spectacles
The gift of sight is something a lot of us take for granted, unfortunately in some countries this is not the case. Old spectacles are collected on behalf of Vision Aid Overseas who clean and grade the lenses. A team of trained opticians then go out to different parts of the world to fit the spectacles.

16. Potential Projects Recycling Old Spectacles
The gift of sight is something a lot of us take for granted, unfortunately in some countries this is not the case. Old spectacles are collected on behalf of Vision Aid Overseas who clean and grade the lenses. A team of trained opticians then go out to different parts of the world to fit the spectacles.

17. Potential Projects Recycling Old Postage Stamps
A Kilo of old postage stamps will feed two pups like these for a day.
So your efforts could help Guide Dogs for Blind People to change one of our two little friends at the top in to a fully fledged Guide Dog like the one on the left.

18. Potential Projects The Rotary Shoebox Scheme (1)
The scheme was launched in 1994, the Rotary Shoebox Scheme was intended to provide the children of Lasi, in north-east Romania with Christmas gifts.
The scheme is now a formal RIBI International Project and most Districts in RIBI are now involved in this popular Scheme.
Gifts are now sent out throughout the year to many different countries in Central  and Eastern Europe. Toys are especially useful all year round for Birthday presents in Orphanages, Homes and Hospitals. All age groups, including teenagers, have welcomed the boxes.

19. Potential Projects
In addition to Romania, Shoeboxes have been sent to Belarus, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia and Kosovo.
We now send around 60,000 Shoeboxes or gifts each year. The strengths of the Rotary Shoebox Scheme over other similar schemes are:
It operates all year round.
The boxes are distributed to known contacts
We can guarantee that every Shoebox goes to a deserving child or family.
The boxes now travel either overland by lorry, or by sea container. We use the services of International Aid Trust (IAT), a Christian Charity who have a long association with Rotary in the north-west of England and who help with both Transportation and Warehousing.

20. Potential Projects
In addition to Romania, Shoeboxes have been sent to Belarus, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia and Kosovo.
We now send around 60,000 Shoeboxes or gifts each year. The strengths of the Rotary Shoebox Scheme over other similar schemes are:
It operates all year round.
The boxes are distributed to known contacts
We can guarantee that every Shoebox goes to a deserving child or family.
The boxes now travel either overland by lorry, or by sea container. We use the services of International Aid Trust (IAT), a Christian Charity who have a long association with Rotary in the north-west of England and who help with both Transportation and Warehousing.

21. Potential Projects
In addition to Romania, Shoeboxes have been sent to Belarus, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia and Kosovo.
We now send around 60,000 Shoeboxes or gifts each year. The strengths of the Rotary Shoebox Scheme over other similar schemes are:
It operates all year round.
The boxes are distributed to known contacts
We can guarantee that every Shoebox goes to a deserving child or family.
The boxes now travel either overland by lorry, or by sea container. We use the services of International Aid Trust (IAT), a Christian Charity who have a long association with Rotary in the north-west of England and who help with both Transportation and Warehousing.

22. Potential Projects
The Rotary Shoebox Scheme Cont’d

23. Potential Projects AquaBox (1)
A standard AquaBox comprises a rigid plastic container, a filter and enough purification tablets to provide 1100 litres of clean drinking water.
The AquaBox is designed for Rotary Clubs and other organisations such as schools, churches, scouts, guides to fill with other essential items – a list of required items is provided.
The AquaBox Trust add survival bags before the box is despatched to an aid agency for use in a disaster area.
The Cost of an AquaBox is £50, plus of course the cost of the items to fill it

24. Potential Projects AquaBox (2)
The cost of an Aquabox includes the cost of delivery to you  and its return when filled, via your local Post Office to the AquaBox Central Store at Wirksworth farm where it will be dispatched when required by an aid agencies.
Every AquaBox is uniquely numbered enabling us to track the ultimate destination of each box.
The insertion of a personal note by senders inviting a personal response is encouraged.

25. Potential Projects
AquaBox Continued

26. Potential Projects Shelter Box
These are sent to disaster areas around the world, wherever they're needed. A good example was to help those people whose homes were devastated by the Tsunami.

27. Potential Projects A Shelter Box Contains
Water filtration equipment and tools
A 10 Person Tent
A complete Shelter box costs in the region of £500
10 Sleeping Bags

28. Potential Projects
Shelter Box Cont’d

29. Potential Projects Toy Collections For Local Hospitals
Other Projects You Could Look At
Toy Collections For Local Hospitals
Community Christmas Tree Decoration
School Pride Days Cleaning and Tidying Areas Of The School
Clothing Collection For Overseas Schools

30. RotaKids Awards
For children who have been identified as doing something special for their community

31. What next? Contact York Vikings Rotary Club Trevor Woodward