As the world’s first not-for-profit founded service club organization holding a motto “Service above self”, Rotary International is devoted to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help building goodwill and peace in the world to reach an ultimate goal of promoting world understanding.
More than 1.2 million Rotarians, including business and professional leaders coming from different fields, belong to more than 33,000 Rotary clubs located in 167 countries. Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community’s business and professional men and women. They are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio. The world’s Rotary clubs’ weekly meetings which are held in a nonpolitical and nonreligious atmosphere are open to all cultures, races, and creeds.
Goals of RI:
The motto “Service above self” clearly tells the main objective of Rotary: service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today’s most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. Programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development are also supported.
And the followings are the objectives of Rotary:
i.) The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
ii.) High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
iii.) The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
iv.) The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.