PRESS RELEASE BY ROTARACT GHANA ON THE OCCASION OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE 44TH WORLD ROTARACT DAY ON MARCH 13, 2012 AT THE SSNIT GUEST HOUSE IN ACCRA, GHANA.

Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. Rotaract clubs are either community or institutional based, and they're sponsored by a local Rotary club. This makes them true "partners in service" and key members of the family of Rotary. As one of Rotary's most significant and fastest-growing service programs, with more than 8,400 clubs in about 170 countries and geographical areas, Rotaract has become a worldwide phenomenon.

History of Rotaract
Rotaract, Rotary International's service club program for young adults was officially inaugurated during January 1968 under RI President Luther Hodges. On 13 March 1968, the Rotaract Club of the University of North Carolina, sponsored by the Rotary Club of North Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, was the first Rotaract club to receive its official charter. Although this club is recognized as the first Rotaract club, Rotarians have been sponsoring similar organizations for young adults since the early 1920s.

Goals of Rotaract
Rotaract has the following goals:
● To develop professional and leadership skills.

● To emphasize respect for the rights of others based on recognition of the worth of each individual.

● To recognize the dignity and value of all useful occupations as opportunities to serve.

● To recognize, practice, and promote ethical standards as leadership qualities and vocational responsibilities.

● To develop knowledge and understanding of the needs, problems, and opportunities in the community and worldwide.

● To provide opportunities for personal and group activities to serve the community and promote international understanding and goodwill towards all people.

Rotaract Activities in Ghana.
There are currently over 20 Rotaract clubs in Ghana which are both community and institutional based. There are over 500 Rotaractors in Ghana who play various leadership roles in delivering on the purpose and the three main activities of Rotaract which are Community Service, Professional Service and Leadership Development.

Rotaract clubs organize a variety of projects and activities, depending primarily on the interests of the club members. However, within the Rotaract program, all clubs undertake three types of activities in varying degrees: professional development, leadership development, and service projects. Together, these three areas ensure a balanced club program and provide important experience and opportunities for the personal development of each Rotaractor. All Rotaract efforts begin at the local, grassroots level, with members addressing their communities' physical and social needs while promoting international understanding and peace through a framework of friendship and service.

Benefits of Rotaract
Service defines Rotaract character and is the basis for its appeal and visibility in the community. Service Above Self is the main philosophy that guides Rotaract. Each Rotaract club is required to complete at least two major service projects annually: one to benefit the community and the other to promote international understanding. Rotaract clubs in Ghana have over the years contributed to community development through various projects that ranges from construction of Library complex at Otinibi, Construction of a Three Unit classroom block at Adaklu, Adoption of patients' wards at Adabraka Polyclinic, Blood Donation to Korle-bu Blood Bank, Donation of food items and learning materials to the Frafraha Orphanage and deprived schools in the Adaklu District, just to mention but a few. Rotaract clubs in Ghana have collaborated with their counterparts abroad in solving the basic needs of our communities; e.g. The Strasburg and Accra Labone Rotaract clubs have made several donations to the Ho leprosarium.

Rotaract clubs are honing the professional and leadership skills of its members and undertaking service projects that are making positive contributions in communities around the world. Rotaract leadership development activities aims not to only make its members more effective leaders in their personal lives but also to teach them how to develop and sustain strong clubs through projects.

Rotary International.
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. It is a secular organization open to all persons regardless of race, color, creed, gender, or political preference. There are 34,301 clubs and over 1.22 million members worldwide. The members of Rotary Clubs are known as Rotarians. Members usually meet weekly for breakfast, lunch or dinner, which is a social event as well as an opportunity to organize work on their service goals. Rotary's primary motto is "Service above Self".

World Rotaract Week
Every year, Rotaractors and Rotarians around the world celebrate World Rotaract Week during the week of 13 March to commemorate the founding of the first club in 1968. World Rotaract Week is a time for celebrating the success and importance of the Rotaract program. This event is also an excellent opportunity to inform members of our community about the amazing work that Rotaract clubs do, and give them an opportunity to get involved.

On this occasion of the 44th World Rotaract Day, We as Rotaractors in Ghana join our counterparts in over 170 countries worldwide to invite members of the public in celebrating the successes and achievements of the Rotaract program in Ghana and beyond. We encourage every member of the public to help contribute to service to humanity by joining a local Rotaract Club today. More information on the activities of Rotaract can be found on www.rotaract.org. We thank every Rotaractor, Rotarian, Media and all stakeholders that have in one way or the other contributed towards the success of the Rotaract program in Ghana. Your efforts have truly helped us to Reach within to Embrace Humanity.

Thank you.

………………………………………………
Richmond Worgbah
(Rotaract National Coordinator)
+233-24-3277769 / +233-26-2277769