Rotaractor Fernanda Luz Moraes entertains a child during a club outing. Happiness, she says, is an essential part of Rotaract.

By Fernanda Luz Moraes, president of the Rotaract Club of Cachoeirinha, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

When I began participating in Rotaract in 2012, I viewed it as a way to spend my weekends doing something good in my community. But then I realized it is so much more than that.

I have met many other members of Rotaract who have a hard time explaining the passion that comes over them for doing volunteer work. The best way I can put it is this: We think globally, then act locally.

I want to change the world, and in order to make it happen, I know I need to develop my leadership skills and abilities. I need to connect to people from all over, from every culture and many different occupations, to gain new ideas and fresh perspectives. I also need to act in a way that inspires leadership in others. We take action and encourage other people to act to make things happen.

I have been cultivating love, enthusiasm, and happiness most of my life. Why shouldn’t I make these things part of my Rotaract experience as well? We have a lot of work to do and many people to develop. We also have much we can learn from them and alongside them.

To me, those are the three secrets of Rotaract: love, enthusiasm, and happiness. Love, because love guides the world. Enthusiasm, because enthusiasm transforms problems into solutions and positive attitudes into tangible results. Happiness, because happiness blinds us to sadness and discouragement, and motivates us to keep making the world better.

Over the years, I have learned that Rotaract embodies all of these things. This is the way we can change our lives and change the world.

Find out how you can participate in Rotaract and discover ways your Rotary club can support this program for emerging leaders