By Shoki Wafula, a member of Rotaract living in South Africa
When I arrived in South Africa from Uganda in October of 2023, far from the familiar rhythms of my homeland, I discovered something I didn’t expect: a Rotary community ready to welcome me as family. Circumstances had forced me to leave the country of my birth. But the warmth offered by Rotarians and Rotaractors across South Africa, along with many global friends, became the spark for a mission I hold close to my heart.
My journey showed me how transformative genuine community can be. I want every young person, regardless of country, background, or circumstance, to feel that same sense of belonging. Inspired by this support, I set out to build something that would be more than an e-club: a home for those seeking purpose, connection, and opportunity.
I spoke with dozens of emerging leaders, many who had left their previous clubs not because they didn’t love Rotary, but because they longed for an environment that felt more like family, valued their identities, and supported their growth. Several of these young leaders brought along friends who felt the same way, expanding our circle and deepening the conversations that shaped our vision.
Formed from youth voices
We began to shape a Rotaract club that is international in its membership and is dedicated to belonging, leadership, and peace. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Auckland, New Zealand, our provisional club is District 9920’s first cause-based Rotaract e-club, with a vision centered on international service, peacebuilding, and young leadership development. Our uniqueness lies in how we were formed: shaped by the voices, expectations, and needs of young people who wanted something different from their Rotaract experience.
In addition to our core group, we recruited members who had never been Rotaractors before, but whose fresh insights and expectations are playing an equally important role in shaping the culture and structure of our club. Their perspectives are helping us build a space where both former Rotaractors and first-time members can thrive.
With 19 provisional members, we have a lively, supportive global community that stays connected well beyond meeting hours. We meet three times a month through Google Meet, Zoom, TikTok Live, and X Spaces. We have young leaders across Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe, including China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, and the United States. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is not merely a principle for us it is the foundation of our culture.
Leadership and professional development
While many clubs focus primarily on the third goal of Rotaract — community service — we chose to realign ourselves with Rotaract’s original purpose: developing leadership and professional skills in young people. We seek to empower young leaders to grow, lead, and serve more effectively.
By creating a member-centered environment where personal and professional development comes first, we have significantly strengthened member participation, as individuals feel supported, valued, and equipped with the skills they need to thrive. We believe that meaningful service begins with empowered members, and that by investing in ourselves, we become better prepared to extend sustainable, high-impact service to our communities.
In partnership with Mentoring Peace Champions Uganda and several Rotary and Rotaract clubs across Uganda, we supported 5,000 youth leaders during the 2nd Annual Peace Festival from 18–20 September 2025. Our Ugandan members attended physically, representing our entire international family.
Driving global impact
In Sierra Leone, we continue to nurture emerging leaders through school-based leadership and arts programs led by our member-base there.
We also partnered with Rotary Global Action in the 8th Annual Global Cleanup Initiative, encouraging members to act locally on 1 January and share their stories to inspire environmental action across continents.
Perhaps our most ambitious endeavour is the creation of an investment club, a youth-led financial model where members save US$10 per share with the long-term vision of establishing a Youth Empowerment Fund. This fund aims to support young innovators and underserved communities worldwide, demonstrating our belief that Rotaract is a platform where bold ideas can grow into sustainable change.
To strengthen our community and attract new members, we are planning a Rotaract Festival, a celebration of service, global friendship, and youth leadership. This event will honour those who continually create space for others and reinforce the spirit of unity that defines our club.
We are building something new. Something global. Something deeply human. And this is only the beginning
https://blog.rotary.org/2026/01/15/building-a-global-family-through-rotaract/