Youth Services Committee Projects & Programs

Mandate

The role of the Youth Service committee is to provide programs and resources related to the educational and leadership development of youth and young adults.
 
Within the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar (RCOT) we discharge this mandate by the following projects and programs
 

Education Grants - The 2024 Award Recipients

Every year the Rotary Oakville Clubs donate between $60,000 and $90,000 in bursaries to deserving Oakville high school students. There is a formal process to select up to 30 students who are notified of the bursaries awarded by approximately mid-May with an Awards Celebration held later in the year to celebrate the bursary winners.
 
To read more CLICK HERE
 
The Application Process
Students must apply directly on the Awards Hub as directed below.  Oakville High School Guidance Departments are notified so please work with your Guidance departments if you need assistance.
  • All applications should be submitted through www.awardshub.ca hosted by the Oakville Community Foundation. Submissions must be made by late April (deadline is posted on the site every year).
  • Please note that money awarded to the recipient will be sent directly to the institution the student has chosen to attend. 
 

 

 

 

 

Interact Clubs - Abbey Park & Oakville Trafalgar High School Interact Clubs

Interact Clubs is a Rotary youth program that was launched by Rotary International in 1962. They provide opportunities for young people of secondary school age to work together in a world fellowship of service.  The name derives from "International" and "Action". 
 
Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. Find out how serious leadership can be seriously fun. They must be sponsored by a Rotary Club and students must have a teacher advisor who will guide and supervise the activities of the Interact Club.
Interactors connect with leaders in their community and elsewhere to take action to make a difference in their school and community.  By doing so they become leaders in their school and community while having fun and make new friends. This provides them an association with the world-wide Interact Clubs as part of Rotary International.
The Rotary Club Oakville Trafalgar (RCOT) has sponsored a number of clubs in our community.
 
Abbey Park High School Interact Club
The Interact Club of Abbey Park High School was officially inducted on November 23, 2023.
 
Since their inauguration the Abbey Park Club has had a very active first year. They undertook several community related projects including the sale of birdhouses (made by Rotarians) with proceeds donated to Ian Anderson Hospice.  Their Bloom Project saw flowers presented to senior's homes residents and May Day appreciation baskets were given to local frontline workers.
 
Additionally, they were successful candidates in a Rotary grant writing initiative and were awarded $1000 which they donated to the Women’s Center of Halton.
 
RCOT also supported other student initiatives at Abbey Park, although they were not led by Interact, but Interactors were part of the organizing committees. These were a Hack-a-Thon (activity by the Eureka-hacks project) in May and Ted-X talks both showcasing outstanding youth involved in innovative projects. To read more their "Firefighter Appreciation Project" CLICK HERE.  To read more about their "Project Bloom" CLICK HERE
 
Oakville Trafalgar high School Interact Club
The Oakville Trafalgar High School Interact Club was inducted in 2015.  Since then, the club has undertaken numerous fundraising projects in aid of local and international charities.
 
These include donations to Muscular Dystrophy Research, the Canadian Cancer Society (for Breast Cancer Research) and the Oakville-Milton Humane Society.  Internationally they have supported CaSerra, a school in need in Sierra Leone.
 
 

Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) - 2024 District 7080 Participants

RYLA is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts to help develop skills as a leader while having fun and making connections.
 
The program is typically between 3 to 4 days long and is designed to connect young people, ages 14-30, with leaders in their community and from around the world.  It helps participants build communication and problem-solving skills and discover strategies to become dynamic leaders. They learn from community leaders, inspirational speakers, and peer mentors and unlock their potential to turn motivation into action while having fun and forming lasting friendships
 
The Rotary club of Oakville Trafalgar routinely sponsors local youths to attend RYLA.  To view a video of the 2024 RYLA CLICK HERE