ABOUT KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL

Kiwanis International is a global organization of member-volunteers working to change the world one child and one community at a time—locally and globally through Kiwanis Club-sponsored activities and programs. Kiwanis comprises more than 600,000 adult and youth members in 70 nations and geographic areas that serve children and communities worldwide.

Kiwanis members are service-minded men and women united in their commitment to and compassion for others. They dedicate more than six million volunteer hours and invest more than US$100 million annually in projects that strengthen communities and serve children. Kiwanians, through guidance and example, work to prepare today’s children to be tomorrow’s citizens.

Membership

Kiwanis clubs, as of September 2008: More than 8,000

Adult Kiwanis members, as of January 2008: More than 248,000

Service mission

Any community need can become a Kiwanis service project, especially the needs of children. Annually, Kiwanis clubs sponsor about 150,000 service projects and raise more than US$100 million. Kiwanis clubs affect their communities in a variety of ways:

In the United States , many clubs support pediatric trauma facilities and sponsor camps for underprivileged or handicapped children. In schools, clubs sponsor programs to help students develop important character traits, become responsible citizens (Terrific Kids) and improve their grades (Bring Up Grades). In Canada , Kiwanis is widely known for sponsoring music festivals for young performers.

Kiwanis clubs in Australia initiated the hospital doll program. In addition to providing comfort to injured children, these featureless cloth dolls can be marked on with felt-tip pens. This helps children describe their symptoms and allows physicians to demonstrate the treatments the children will receive. The idea spread quickly to Kiwanis clubs in Europe and then to the rest of the world. Additionally, Australian clubs teamed with New Zealand clubs to donate a dairy herd to the only agricultural college in East Timor , not only to aid education, but also to provide milk to local children.

European Kiwanis clubs are strong supporters of Special Olympics. The clubs in Western Europe also launched the Kiwanis Education Program to assist students, teachers and schools in Eastern Europe with teaching assistance, donations of computers and other equipment and student exchanges.

Kiwanis clubs in Latin America support orphanages and health clinics and build schools in underserved areas. In Malaysia , Kiwanis clubs sponsor several centers for children with Down syndrome, while in Sri Lanka the focus is on a children’s hospital.

Kiwanis Worldwide Service Project

In 1994, Kiwanis adopted its first Worldwide Service Project, a campaign in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Iodine deficiency is rare in areas where iodized salt is used, but in other parts of the world, IDD is the leading cause of preventable mental and physical retardation. Kiwanis raised US$100 million through the campaign, funds that were put to work in 90 nations helping ensure that more than 80 million children in the developing world were born free of Iodine Deficiency Disorders each year. The number of households estimated to be consuming iodized salt has jumped dramatically from 20 percent in 1990 to more than 70 percent.

The Kiwanis name

The name “Kiwanis” was coined from an expression in an American Indian language of the Detroit area, “Nunc Kee-wanis,” which means, “We trade” or “we share our talents.”

KIWANIS SERVICE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS

As Kiwanis’ membership has grown and enthusiasm for its focus on service has spread, Kiwanis has created additional volunteer and leadership opportunities for people at every stage of life through its Service Leadership Programs.

Circle K International

Circle K International is a service organization for university and college students, with more than 13,000 members on more than 450 campuses in 17 nations. Circle K organized as a service organization in 1947 in Pullman , Wash. Its members are committed to leadership, service and fellowship. For more information about Circle K International, visit www.circlek.org, or call 1-800-KIWANIS. For more information about Kiwanis, please visit www.kiwanis.org.

Key Club International

The oldest Kiwanis service leadership youth program is Key Club. Seventeen boys in Sacramento , Calif. , made up the first Key Club in 1925, and today the organization is active in 27 nations, more than 5,000 clubs and more than 250,000 members. More than two million youth have participated in Key Club since its inception, including many leaders in government, business, entertainment and sports, such as former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Elvis Presley.

Builders Club

When middle school and junior high students showed an interest in organizing to serve their schools and communities, Kiwanis International launched the Builders Club program in 1975. With support from Kiwanis clubs, Key Clubs and Circle K clubs, the Builders Club network has grown to include more than 1,200 clubs and more than 36,000 members in eight nations.

Kiwanis Kids

This organization for elementary school-age students began in 1990 when the first club formed in North Lauderdale , Fla. , and Kiwanis formally adopted it as a sponsored program in 1998. Today, 27,000 K-Kids in 950 clubs in eight nations actively create opportunities for community service, leadership development and citizenship education. Under the Kiwanis Kids umbrella, Kiwanis has two programs: Terrific Kids and Bring Up Grades (BUG), both of which are designed to help students improve their grades, behavior, peer relationships and self-esteem.

Terrific Kids

Terrific Kids is a student recognition program that promotes character development, self-esteem and perseverance. Students work with their classroom teacher to establish goals to improve behavior, peer relationships, attendance and coursework. After a specific period agreed upon by the teacher, principal and student, the child is recognized as a “Terrific Kid” (Thoughtful, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Responsible, Inclusive, Friendly, Inquisitive, Capable) for achieving his or her goals.

Bring Up Grades (BUG)

This program recognizes students who raise their grades to an acceptable range, and maintain or continue to raise them from one grading period to the next. Bring Up Grades, or BUG, awards students who continue to improve their grades by placing them on the school’s BUG Honor Roll, and awarding them with a recognition ceremony or party.

Aktion Clubs

In October 2000, Kiwanis extended service opportunities to adult citizens living with disabilities through the formation of Aktion Clubs. These clubs provide members with opportunities to develop initiative and leadership, to serve their communities, to integrate into society and to demonstrate the dignity and value of citizens living with disabilities. Today, there are more than 6,790 members in more than 260 clubs.

Kiwanis Junior

Kiwanis Junior clubs work in Europe and help share the Kiwanis service experience with younger adults, ages 18-35. Kiwanis Junior became an official program in 1992 and includes more than 50 clubs.

Key Leader

Launched in 2005, Key Leader is a weekend leadership development retreat for middle and high school students designed to begin a process of personal leadership growth. Since its inception, thousands of students have successfully completed the program in the United States , Malaysia and Brazil . Key Leader is intended for a broader spectrum of students—not just academic achievers, and focuses on how service to others helps develop leadership skills.

Return to Home Page