For over a century, Rotary has committed itself to addressing the needs of communities across the globe. In recognition of this commitment, Rotary honors six projects each year that create change – not only in member communities, but around the world. These projects demonstrate how Rotary members are truly people of action.
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The People of Action: Champions of Impact recognition dinner at the Rotary International Convention in Singapore.
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A breakout session during Rotary Day at the United Nations with the Young Innovators honorees in Nairobi, Kenya.
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2022-23 Rotary International President Jennifer Jones and the Champions of Inclusion honorees visit an exhibit at the Tutu Legacy Foundation Homecoming Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.
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Rotary's People of Action: Champions of Girls Empowerment awardee (right) at the Rotary International Convention in Houston, Texas, USA.
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Rotary Day at the United Nations in New York City, New York, USA, where six Rotary members were recognized as Rotary People of Action: Connectors Beyond Borders.
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Rotary Day at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, where six individuals were recognized as Rotary People of Action: Champions of Peace.
Why are the People of Action Honors important?
People of Action Honors are given to Rotary projects that exemplify everything our organization has to offer. Born out of a White House initiative in the United States, the People of Action Honors highlight impactful, sustainable, and scalable projects that are models of service for clubs around the world.
For more than 10 years, the People of Action Honors have brought attention to Rotary projects related to disease prevention, mental health, community development, education, youth empowerment, sustainability, and many more areas of service. The Rotary People of Action honorees represent the standard for the type of change Rotary members create in their communities and across the globe.
Nominations for the 2024-25 Rotary People of Action Honors
The 2024-25 Rotary People of Action Honors will recognize six Rotary members, Rotary Peace Fellows, global grant scholarship recipients, or Rotary alumni as Champions of Peace. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the People of Action Honors program.
Similarly to the 2017-18 honors, the 2024-25 program will highlight Rotary projects that foster peace, resolve conflict, demonstrate impact, and align with our Action Plan and strategic priorities.
View the 2024-25 People of Action Honors nomination form.
Nomination deadline: 18 October 2024
Champions of Impact 2023-24
During the 2024 Rotary International Convention in Singapore, 2023-24 Rotary International President R. Gordon R. McInally honored six individuals as Rotary People of Action: Champions of Impact. The honorees were distinguished by their leadership over projects that have created positive, collaborative, sustainable, and long-term change.
Watch the Champions of Impact highlight video below.
What is impact for Rotary?
Rotary members are People of Action who create sustainable change. We initiate projects that not only positively impact our world, but have the capacity to be maintained locally and serve communities’ continuing needs.
Want to learn how to maximize your club’s impact? Review the following resources:
- Impact Definitions – All Rotary Languages
- Programs of Scale
- Learning Center Series – Increase Your Impact
- Developing Effective Projects – My Rotary
- Theory of Change – Rotary Voices Blog
- Rotary Action Plan: Increase Our Impact
Rotary People of Action honorees in the news
Past People of Action Honorees
2022-2023: Champions of Inclusion
2021-2022: Champions of Girls’ Empowerment
2020-2021: Champions of Health
2019-2020: Connectors Beyond Borders
2018-2019: Young Innovators
2017-2018: Champions of Peace