Rotary has a long history of providing service to youth. Each year, more than 300,000 young people participate in Rotary programs like Interact, Rotary Youth Exchange, and Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). Many club and district mentoring programs, immunization efforts, job training programs, literacy projects, and other initiatives also help young people or other vulnerable populations.
Unfortunately, no organization or program is invulnerable to abuse or crises. They can and do occur in even the most seemingly positive settings. Predators often seek teaching, coaching, or other positions that give them access to children and teenagers. Others who are committed to working with youth sometimes find it hard to believe that some adults will abuse the trust placed in them, so they may not notice the signs. Rotary takes youth protection very seriously, and it relies on Rotarians to foster safe environments that prevent abuse and to respond appropriately when it occurs.
Statement of Conduct for Working with Youth
Rotary International strives to create and maintain a safe environment for all youth who participate in Rotary activities. To the best of their ability, Rotarians, Rotarians’ spouses and partners, and other volunteers must safeguard the children and young people they come into contact with and protect them from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.
This principle must be followed throughout Rotary, from our districts, clubs, Rotarians and other volunteers at all levels, to our materials, programming, and communications with parents and guardians.
On Saturday, August 6, 2022, Hawai’i Rotary District 5000 Youth Protection Officer (YPO), Peter Evans held a Youth Protection Certification training for the D5000 clubs. The attendance from clubs is a true attestation of the District’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for the youth we work with.
Every club is required to complete the Club Compliance Statement and email it to ypo@rotaryd5000.org
The training was recorded and can be found in the District’s Training library: (107) Youth Protection Certification training Aug 6, 2022 - YouTube
Important Links:
Club Compliance Statement:
Volunteer Affidavit Form:
Volunteer Affidavit Instructions:
https://www.rotaryd5000.org/sitepage/youth-services/volunteer-affidavit
Youth Protection Guide:
District 5000 Policy Manual (approved 05/22/22)
https://portal.clubrunner.ca/60108/Documents/en-ca/dd12b8cd-92e1-43ad-acb0-dff649b36bc5/1/
For questions or to report an issue, please contact YPO Peter Evans at ypo@rotaryd5000.org. For more information about the District’s efforts with Youth Services, visit RotaryD5000.org/Youth-Services