Waving the Flag for Rotaract Around the World
Our international work helps our network broaden their perspectives, build global connections, and contribute to solutions that address challenges on a worldwide scale.
As part of an international network spanning over 180 countries, Rotaract Great Britain and Ireland plays an active role by working closely with Rotary International and fellow Rotaract organisations to strengthen connections and deliver impact and opportunities both locally and internationally.
Our international work supports projects and partnerships that respond to global challenges, while creating opportunities for members to engage in international service projects, learn from different cultures, and build lasting relationships across borders.
The European Rotaract Information Centre (ERIC) plays a key role in connecting Rotaractors across Europe, supporting collaboration between countries, sharing best practice, and providing a platform for leadership development, international service partnerships, and communication between Rotaract and Rotary structures. Rotaract Great Britain and Ireland works in partnership with ERIC to foster international exchanges and collaboration.
Member of the Rotaract club of Wandsworth in London, Elise Nassif, is the Rotaract Europe President for 2026-27. You can read more about her election and focus on our website.
With Rotaract Europe, our network has at least three opportunities per year to take part in events in different European cities. This includes the European Convention (EUCO) and two Rotaract Europe Meetings (REM); along with a number of other events.
For the 25/26 Rotary year, members of our network joined REMs in Skopje (North Macedonia) and Utrecht (the Netherlands) as well as EUCO in Opatija (Croatia). Each of these events include a two day ‘pre’ and ‘post’ trip to other cities within the region.
At REM Skopje, participants combined service and learning by preparing meals for people in need with Vitalia Healthy Food and engaging in workshops such as “Rotaracting for Peace” and “End Plastic Soup”. Participants also explored the stunning landscapes of Matka Canyon and Vrelo Cave.
The pre-REM trip included visits to the Macedonia cities of Ohrid and Bitola and the post-REM trip headed to Nish, the third largest city in Serbia.
This momentum continued at REM Utrecht, with more than 400 participants from 33 countries. Workshops explored topics such as storytelling for social impact, sustainable urban mobility with the Dutch Cycling Embassy, strategic partnership building, and water diplomacy. Beyond the workshops, activities such as the End Plastic Soup social project, speed-friending networking sessions, and country booths showcasing local initiatives created a strong sense of belonging and shared purpose.
The pre and post REM trips headed to Germany with visits to Groningen and Aachen.
At EUCO in Opatija Rotaractors took part in the ERIC Awards and supported the Rijeka Animal Protection Society which is run entirely by dedicated volunteers that has been caring for abandoned and lost animals for over 30 years. The programme also included cocktail-making masterclasses, hiking on Mount Učka and a cruise through the Kvarner Bay.
The pre and post REM trips included a visit to the Capital of Croatia, Zagreb, and the historic coastal city of Zadar on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast.
For the 26/27 Rotary year, members of our network will have the opportunity to attend REM in Karlsruhe (Germany) and Cluj Napoca (Romania) with EUCO heading to Napoli (Italy).
The next REMarkable experience to REMember will be REM Karlsruhe.
At this next European event, Rotaractors will be able to join workshops with Holger Khaack, the former Rotary International President and Chair of the Rotary Foundation, about Rotaract's place within Rotary. They will also be able to hear from Walter B. Gyger, former Swiss Ambassador, about “Peacemaking in Times of Power Politics” where they will learn practical approaches to peacebuilding by understanding different perspectives and taking the first steps toward dialogue and de-escalation. Along with visits to local attractions, there will also be pre and post trips to Frankfurt and Strasbourg (France).
The Rotaract GBI Board’s Experience Director, Michael Mordecai, also acts as the formal Country Representative for Rotaract Clubs and Rotaractors within our districts as part of their membership with Rotaract Europe.
"I've always believed that Rotaract brings together shared attitudes in volunteering. Everyone wants to help and everyone wants to contribute in one way or another. As Country Representative, I believe ERIC has the ability to bring together alternative perspectives and cultures, whilst working together for the same "do-goodery" cause. I will do everything in my power to listen and maintain such a collaborative network."
Because of Rotaract, Michael has been able to attend REM in Dublin (Ireland), Stockholm (Sweden), Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Prague (Czechia), Utrecht (the Netherlands) and attend EUCO in Bucharest (Romania) and Opatija (Croatia). He has also been able to visit the Danube Delta (Romania), Ardennes (Belgium), Vienna (Austria) and Zadar (Croatia) with pre and post trips.
Rotaract Mediterranean also hosts events with Michael attending MEDICON in Chieti (Italy) and Post-MEDICON in Puglia (Italy). Nordic countries also host their own event once a year with the latest event in Tallinn (Estonia) with Michael also visiting Helsinki (Finland).
He has also visited Hamburg as part of the most recent German trip as well as attending the district conference in Krakow (Poland) and also joined the then Rotary International President, Stephanie A. Urchick, in Marrakech (Morocco).
Michael's experiences so far with opportunities to connect with Rotaract around the world are not unique to him and are open to all Rotaractors. Part of his role as Experience Director is to support others to be able to go further with Rotaract and make the most of what this organisation has to offer.
As a global network, opportunities extend around the world Rotaractors to travel, connect and create a lasting impact.
Last month more than 38,000 Rotary members from over 140 countries gathered in Taipei for the annual Rotary International Convention. The event is expected to inject the equivalent of £40million to the local economy.
In his welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony, President of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, thanked Taiwan Rotary members for bringing the world to Taiwan.
“Let’s work together to Do Good in the World. In our commitment to peace, public health, environmental sustainability, humanitarian aid, and beyond, Taiwan will continue to walk hand in hand with Rotarians worldwide. Together, we will foster a more connected world through goodwill, and shape the future through action”.
Outgoing Rotary International President, Francesco Arezzo, said;
“Rotary conventions are powerful moments of unity, where people from every corner of the world come together to connect, celebrate service and exchange ideas for a healthier, more peaceful future.”
Rotaract Great Britain and Ireland’s Action Director, Shauna Loganathan, attended the event.
“There were incredible Taiwanese cultural performances throughout, celebrating the host country, and an orchestra had been flown over from Italy to celebrate the outgoing Rotary International President, Francesco Arezzo, from Ragusa in Sicily and the incoming president Olayinka Hakeem Babalola from Trans Amadi in Nigeria. And a fun fact, Yinka is the first ever Rotary International President to have been a Rotaractor!
Throughout the week, in the other plenary sessions, we heard inspiring speakers including the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history, Malala Yousafzai, who spoke about the power of education and making sure every girl has the opportunity to learn.
We heard about global health, engineering, AI, the future of Rotary, construction and building, Shelterbox. They also showed us how Rotary has provided wonderful opportunities for change. There were also performances by British pop star Leona Lewis, a pop band from Italy, and the incredible Taiwan Acrobatic Troupe. The week was truly a celebration of both Rotary and Taiwanese culture.
Outside the main sessions, one of my favourite places was the House of Friendship. If you’ve never been to an International Convention, imagine one enormous exhibition hall filled with Rotary projects, Action Groups, fellowship groups, humanitarian organisations and Rotary clubs from around the world.”
John Hewko and Shauna Loganathan
During the International Convention, John Hewko, the Rotary International General Secretary spoke and during this speech he highlighted;
“It’s not just the projects, it's the friendship inside the projects.”
Shauna isn’t the only member of the Rotaract GBI Board of Directors to have attended one of the Rotary International Convention with our Training Director, Chris Wells, giving a presentation about the power of “DOGOODERY” during the 2019 convention in Hamburg, Germany, in front of over 10,000 people.
Next year even more of our network will be able to connect with People of Action from around the world at the 2027 Rotary International Convention in Barcelona, Spain.
In Barcelona, Rotary’s global family will come together for an exceptional experience focused on learning, collaboration, and discovery. From the energy of the convention floor to the Host Organization Committee’s Signature Events, the city itself becomes a convention feature, offering iconic architecture, rich artistic culture, and the relaxed charm of the Mediterranean coast.
