Get involved

Young people can take part in RYLA at the local or international level.

Local RYLA Programs
Locally, RYLA programs are typically organized and carried out by Rotarians at the district level. Each RYLA program is unique and may vary from others in both the age of attendees as well as the overall program content. To get involved with RYLA in your district, contact us.  Make sure to provide information on your location so that we can quickly direct you to the Rotarians responsible for overseeing RYLA activities in your area.

The International RYLA
Aside from locally-organized RYLA programs, interested individuals can also get involved in the International RYLA, which is an annual meeting that takes place immediately prior to the Rotary International Convention, in the same location as the convention. The International RYLA brings together up to 150 delegates between the ages 18-30 who have extensive experience with Rotary or Rotary Foundation programs. During the meeting, attendees have the opportunity to learn advanced leadership techniques through intensive training sessions, group discussions and speakers, as well as collaborate and network with exceptional young adults from around the world.

Information on eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and much more is available here. 

If you have any questions about local RYLA programs or the annual International RYLA meeting, please contact us at ryla@rotary.org for more information.

Organize a RYLA event
Organizing a RYLA event is a challenging and exciting undertaking that requires a concerted effort among many people. After developing a RYLA team, questions of timing, location, funding, and participant selection need to be considered.

Though RI has established a basic framework for RYLA events in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Handbook (PDF), Rotarians are strongly encouraged to develop programs based on participants’ needs and the resources available through their club or district. A number of variables, including duration, age groups served, venue, activities, goals, and level (i.e., club, district, or multidistrict), will shape your RYLA program and make it unique and useful.

It’s recommended that a RYLA event focus on young people within a two- to three-year age range. Individuals ages 14-18 require a different approach than those ages 19-30. RI recommends visiting other RYLA events to get ideas for organizing new programs and improving existing ones.

If the event is being organized by more than one district, the district governors need to obtain the approval of two-thirds of the clubs in their district and write a letter indicating this approval to the general secretary. The organizing committee also needs to send the following documentation to the general secretary: a brief description of the RYLA event (including dates); a statement indicating that the event will be carried out under the RI Board's policy regarding multidistrict service activities and projects; a list of multidistrict committee members organizing the event; and signatures of the district governors.

If a district is organizing the RYLA event itself and merely wants to invite others, no authorization is required. As a matter of courtesy, the organizing district should discuss what the event will involve with the governors of the invited districts.

Promote RYLA
Rotarians can promote RYLA events with colorful posters and participant certificates, which are available online  through RI Publications Order Services  (Phone: 847-866-4600), and through the international offices . 

Looking for RYLA pins, hats, banners, or stationery? Find a licensed supplier of Rotary merchandise.

Interested in using the RYLA logo? Be sure to follow RI's guidelines (PDF). You can also download the Rotary emblem.