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‘Fellowship through Service’ is Rotaract's motto. It is believed that, through community services, friendship can be fostered, bonding can be strengthened, and the peace of the world can be achieved. House of Friendship will mark the start of the programme of Interota 2020 Hong Kong. It is an occasion for Rotaractors from different parts of the world to get to know each other, making new connections and reuniting with old partners. Not only is it an occasion for socializing, it is also a platform for cultural exchange and an opportunity to join leaders, exchange ideas and take action.
In addition, Rotaractors will be invited to run sharing sessions to promote their own districts and showcase projects run by their districts, so that participants can be connected with different districts, and thus multi-district or international service projects can be fostered in future.
For sure, Hong Kong culture will be promoted as well. The host will give every Rotaractor and participant a warm welcome to Interota 2020 Hong Kong by sharing local cultures such as traditional mini-games.
Local government officials, Rotary leaders and Rotaractors from all around the world will be invited to witness the official opening of Interota 2020 Hong Kong. There will be addresses from distinguished guests and special performances featuring Hong Kong culture.
Ms. Katharina Unger, founder of Livin Farms, will be our keynote speaker. Being a thought leader in the space of design for sustainability, food and agricultural innovation, as well as the founder of companies leading in the field of edible insects and novel food innovations, she will share with us how she promotes sustainability through food and agricultural innovation. With her sharing, our participants will learn more about future food and how to level up the world through innovations.
The Forum consists of 2 sessions with meaningful discussion on our future.
Session 1 - Future of Rotaract
‘Elevate Rotaract’ has been a notable movement within the Rotary family in recent years. Interota will gather Rotaract leaders from all over the world to share insights and exchange thoughts to facilitate Rotaractors in opening opportunities. The forum will feature panel speakers from different multi-district information organizations (MDIOs) representing different parts of the Rotaract community. Discussion over topics like policy changes relating to Rotaract will be conducted.
Session 2 - Let’s be Future Ready (Limited Quota)
One of the great challenges in the world is to deal with the uncertain future. We are living in a time when the pace of change is so fast and the scope of change is so broad that many of us are feeling puzzled and dazzled when we look forward. Led by a seasoned Rotarian who is also a Certified Foresight Practitioner, the discussion will surround how 'Futures Literacy' trains one's mind to perceive the future differently, to be critical about what others say about the future, and to take control of the uncertain future.
Echoing the theme of Interota 2020 Hong Kong ‘Leverage Youth Power | Level Up The World’, Interota Academy is set to facilitate learning and exchange of ideas among participants.
This programme will be divided into two parts. The first part is ‘Connectious’ - a word combining ‘connection’ and ‘us’. Participants from all around the world will be sharing their passion and their Rotaract clubs’ visions. This allows the participants to connect with each other, as they together recall some common experiences as members of Rotary/Rotaract. Furthermore, June marks the last month of a Rotary Year, which makes it a good occasion for district and club leaders to prepare handover to their successors. Handover isn’t merely a transfer of positions or duties, but also the passing on of Rotary’s vision and values.
The second part is ‘What the world should be' - extracted from lyrics of Rotaract Song. Participants will be engaged in group discussions to explore different global issues. In a role-play, each member will take on a given stakeholder’s role to think of the needs and difficulties from the stakeholder’s perspective. This allows our participants to obtain a holistic view of the global issue, thereby reflecting their connection with the world. When things do not go as expected, we can still be the change we want to see and make the world a better place.
Hong Kong has long been a place where different cultures are adopted and further evolved with fusion and diversity. Apart from the East-meets-West phenomenon, there are hidden treasures of Hong Kong traditional culture, which may be unknown to most people, to be explored. The following cultural workshops aim to unveil the most unique and distinctive sides of Hong Kong.
'Fa Pai' (floral plaque) is a traditional craft made by bamboo and commonly presented as a gift at store openings, wedding banquets and job promotion celebrations. In the workshop, you will craft your own mini Fa Pai, guided by Mr. Wong Nai-chung, one of the few remaining Fa Pai masters in Hong Kong.
(The material list will be shared with registered workshop participants in advance. Preparation for the materials is recommended for a full workshop experience.)
In the workshop, you will be taught to cook some wonderful dishes by yourself to enjoy, guided by George Wong, Charter President of Rotary Club of Golden Bauhinia Hong Kong. He is also the Director of Message Studio and the host of a cooking show.
The ingredient list will be shared with Interota registrants in advance. Preparation for the ingredients is recommended for a full workshop experience.
Cultural performance will be the highlight of the night. Participants are encouraged to form teams to represent their countries or districts and submit performance videos ahead of the event. The performance videos will be showcased during the night, while funds will be raised for approved local charitable organizations in Hong Kong. Cultural Night will not only be a stage for showcasing talents and unique cultures from all around the world, but also a platform for raising awareness and making contributions towards the local community. To embody worldwide harmony, participants are expected to dress up in traditional costumes of their country or culture for attending the cultural night.
This is a hybrid programme in which Hong Kong participants will join physical service sessions and overseas participants can attempt the service challenge in their home countries
Service is an essential element of Rotaract and there is no exception for Interota 2020 Hong Kong. As People of Action, local participants will get involved in serving the local community in Hong Kong through Peace 2020 Service Marathon, which will last for 2020 minutes, non-stop as a group. The 2020-minute service marathon symbolizes the year 2020 (the year that Interota 2020 Hong Kong was originally scheduled) as well as Rotaractors’ endurance to fulfill our motto ‘Fellowship through Service’.
Apart from witnessing the service implementation and bringing service ideas back to their countries, overseas participants can also take part in a Service Challenge — #SayNoToPlastic. Interota participants will be encouraged to take action and influence their peers to take the challenge by uploading relevant photos and videos to social media. Together we demonstrate the spirit of marathon — endurance and perseverance in protecting the environment and making the world a better place.
'Clubhouse' is a trendy platform where people around the world come together to talk, listen and learn from each other in real-time. Guest speakers will share interesting topics about Hong Kong and unveil their perspectives. Participants can freely join in any of the conversation rooms, listen to the sharing and interacting with others on the call.
While the conversation topics will surround Hong Kong, the rooms will be joined by worldwide participants, who will enrich the discussion from a wider angle with different perspectives. Overseas participants will contribute by adding in examples from their hometown, which allow more reflections to take place. It is believed that these sessions are able to generate a great impact in the long-run by equipping participants with a 'local goes global' thinking.
Panel 1 - Kindness is Color Blind - Serving the Community with Down-to-earthness
Date: 8 June 2021 (Tue) 20:00-22:00 HKT
"Why did we come to Hong Kong from different countries and decide to stay? Why are non-locals like us committed to fighting for the underprivileged? Join our chat to reveal the answers and find out how we serve the community in a down-to-earth manner."
Guest Speakers:
- Mr. Jeff Rotmeyer, Founder, ImpactHK
- Mr. John Wotherspoon, Founder, MercyHK
- Ms. Faby Ruesga, Director, YWAM HK - Tuen Mun
Panel 2 - Travel Like a Local - Exploring Hong Kong from a Non-touristy Perspective
Date: 9 June 2021 (Wed) 14:00-16:00 HKT
"Do you want to explore Hong Kong in a non-touristy way? How can you travel like a local? Listen to us and find out our special ways in exploring Hong Kong."
Guest Speakers:
- Mr. Sampson Wong, Urbanist
- Ms. Ester van Steekelenburg, Founder, iDiscover
- Ms. Heiward Mak, Film Director
While local participants are privileged to join the physical activities, overseas participants can also get involved online despite the limitation of physical distance. Following our local guides and seeing through their lens, overseas participants will be able to explore and experience a distinct side of Hong Kong, as if they are physically touring around the city. Let's discover Hong Kong together!
At the closing ceremony, closing remarks from the Rotary International representative and special performances will be expected. Besides, the most anticipated recap video capturing all the unforgettable moments during Interota 2020 Hong Kong will be released, to allow everyone to recall and reflect on their experiences during the 5-day programme.
Interota takes place in different cities on a rotating basis. The host of the next Interota (Interota 2023) will be decided and announced during Interota 2020 Hong Kong.