Service Leadership Programs - Clubs
KEY CLUB - High School
Key Club International, the largest high school service organization in the world, empowers its members to lead and serve by cultivating leadership skills, developing friendships, and performing community service. Key Club members have a passion for helping others and gain leadership skills they will carry with them for a lifetime.
Key Club is creative with their ideas. Whether rolling up their sleeves or opening their wallets, Kiwanians make transformative changes in communities around the world. On average, members of the Kiwanis family host approximately 150,000 service projects and complete more than 19 million service hours a year. Every year, our clubs raise more than US$100 million to support community causes — in addition to supporting the Kiwanis Children's Fund.
Our Mission Statement
Key Club is an international, student-led organization that provides its members with opportunities to provide service, build character and develop leadership.
Core Values
Leadership » Leadership is grounded in humility and service to others. A true leader listens, recognizes, and empowers.
Character building » Character is built by everyday acts of kindness, integrity and teamwork to grow stronger relationships and communities.
Caring » Compassion for others is a cornerstone of the Key Club experience, inspiring action and service to one’s community.
Inclusiveness » We welcome people of all backgrounds and ethnicities to join in serving and making a positive difference in our world.
Pledge
I pledge, on my honor,
to uphold the Objects of Key Club International;
to build my home, school and community;
to serve my nation and world;
and combat all forces which tend to undermine these institutions.
Objectives of Key Club International
Key Club aims to cooperate with school principals and teachers to provide high school students with invaluable experience in living and working together and to prepare them for useful citizenship. Our members develop initiative and leadership skills by serving their schools and communities.
In doing so, we hope to promote and accept the following ideals:
- To give primacy to the human and spiritual, rather than to the material values of life.
- To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.
- To promote the adoption and application of higher standards in scholarship, sportsmanship and social contacts.
- To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable citizenship.
- To provide a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render unselfish service and to build better communities.
- To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which makes possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and good will.
CIRCLE K CLUB - College, University
Circle K International is the world’s largest student-led collegiate service organization, with thousands of members on hundreds of campuses on five continents across the globe.
The collegiate branch of the Kiwanis International family, CKI is committed to developing leaders by offering unique service, leadership and fellowship opportunities that not only change the world but change members’ lives.
CKI members leave college with real-life networking and advocating skills AND service leadership.
CKI members are dedicated to childhood development, environmental justice, serving those who are food insecure or lack housing and mental health. We also partner with UNICEF USA to raise awareness about the need of clean drinking water worldwide.
Motto
Live to Serve, Love to Serve
Mission
Developing college and university students into a global network of responsible citizens and leaders with a lifelong commitment to service.
Pledge
“I pledge to uphold the Object of Circle K International, to foster compassion and goodwill toward others through service and leadership, to develop my abilities and the abilities of all people and to dedicate myself to the realization of humanity’s potential.”
Objectives of Circle K International
• To emphasize the advantages of the democratic way of life;
• To provide the opportunity for leadership training in service;
• To serve on the campus and in the community;
• To cooperate with the administrative officers of the educational institutions of which the clubs are a part;
• To encourage participation in group activities;
• To promote good fellowship and high scholarship;
• To develop aggressive citizenship and the spirit of service for improvement of all human relationships;
• To afford useful training in the social graces and personality development; and
• To encourage and promote the following ideals:
▪ To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life;
▪ To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships;
▪ To promote the adoption and the application of high social, business and professional standards;
▪ To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable citizenship;
▪ To provide through Circle K clubs a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service and to build better communities; and
▪ To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism, which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and goodwill.
K-KIDS CLUB - Elementary School
K-Kids is the largest service organization for elementary school students, with more than 1,200 clubs worldwide. Club members discover their passion to serve, desire to lead and their ability to engage and collaborate with others to better the school and community.
In K-Kids clubs worldwide, children are learning leadership through service. They’re taking on the responsibility of running a K-Kids club as they plan and participate in community service projects. They assist the elderly with chores or organize community food drives.They serve their schools, raising funds for sports equipment and extracurricular activities.
In big and small ways, they’re changing the world around them. But the most significant change happens in the kids themselves.
K-Kids is a student-led community service organization that operates under school regulations and draws its members from the student body. Community-based K-Kids clubs also can be established at churches, libraries, YMCAs, lodges or similar facilities. A Kiwanis club, composed of like-minded, service-oriented people from the community, serves as the club’s sponsor.
K-Kids is structured only on the local club level but is supported by district volunteers appointed by Kiwanis leaders and the Kiwanis International Office in Indianapolis, Indiana, which provides guidelines, programs, educational resources and club recognition opportunities.
Motto
We build
Vision
To develop competent, capable, caring leaders through the vehicle of service.
Mission
K-Kids is an international student-led organization providing members with opportunities to perform service, build character and develop leadership.
Objects
To provide opportunities for working together in service to school and community. To develop leadership potential. To foster the development of strong moral character. To encourage loyalty to school, community, and nation.
Pledge
As a K-Kid, I promise to serve my neighborhood and my school. I will show respect toward my environment and I will try to make the world a better place in which to live.
BUILDERS CLUB - Middle School
Builders Club is the largest service organization for middle school and junior high students, with more than 45,000 members worldwide.
Members learn to work together and develop servant-leaders skills as they serve their school and community. In partnership with UNICEF and March of Dimes, the clubs are able to expand their outreach to babies and children of the world.
The first Builders Club was chartered in 1975. Today, there are more than 1,600 clubs in Aruba, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Philippines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.
Builders Club is a student-led community service organization that operates under school regulations and draws its members from the student body. Community-based Builders Clubs can also be established at churches, libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, lodges or similar facilities. A Kiwanis club, composed of like-minded, service-oriented people from the community, serves as the club’s sponsor.
Builders Club is structured on the local club level but is supported by the Kiwanis International Office in Indianapolis, Indiana, which provides guidelines, programs, educational resources and club recognition opportunities.
It’s age-appropriate.
The program and its resources are designed specifically to help middle school students get the most of of the club experience.
Your needs matter.
Each club determines its own meeting schedule, service projects and other activities in order to fit the needs of advisors, members and sponsors.
You’re not alone.
Adult Kiwanis volunteers and staff at the regional and international levels are there to support your club’s success.
Motto
Building Leaders
Objects
To provide opportunities for working together in service to school and community. To develop leadership potential. To foster the development of strong moral character. To encourage loyalty to school, community and nation.
Vision
To develop competent, capable, caring leaders through the vehicle of service.
Mission
Builders Club is an international student-led organization providing members with opportunities to perform service, build character and develop leadership.
Core Values
Character building: The ability to do the right thing, even when it might be the unpopular choice. Leadership: The ability to listen, communicate, serve and guide others. Inclusiveness: Accepting and welcoming differences in other people. Caring: The act of being concerned about or interested in other people or situations.
Pledge
“I pledge on my honor to uphold the objects of Builders Club.To my school, my community, my nation, and myself. To aid those in need while enhancing leadership capabilities, and to encourage the fellowship of all mankind.”
AKTION CLUB - Adults with disabilities
Aktion Club where development has no disability.
Aktion Club is the only service club for adults with disabilities, with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Club members become competent, capable, caring leaders through the vehicle of service.
Aktion Club is the only service club for adults with disabilities, with more than 12,000 members worldwide.
Aktion Clubs draw members from various organizations that support individuals with disabilities, as well as other community programs. Aktion clubs can also be established at churches, libraries, YMCAs, lodges or similar facilities. A Kiwanis club, composed of like-minded, service-oriented people from the community, serves as the club’s sponsor.
Aktion Club is supported at the district level and by the Kiwanis International Office in Indianapolis, Indiana, which provides programs, literature and opportunities to relate to individuals with disabilities from countries worldwide.
Motto
Where development has no disability.
Vision
To develop competent, capable, caring leaders through the vehicle of service.
Mission
To provide adults living with disabilities an opportunity to develop initiative, leadership skills and to serve their communities.
Core Values
Character Building: The ability to the right thing, even when it might be the unpopular choice. Leadership: The ability to listen, communicate, serve and guide others. Inclusiveness: Accepting and welcoming differences in other people. Caring: The act of being concerned about or interested in other people or situationsl
Pledge
I pledge on my honor to follow the Objects of Aktion Club. To better my community,my country and myself. To help those in need. To demonstrate loyalty to our community and nation. And to encourage others to do the same
Service Leadership Programs
TERRIFIC KIDS PROGRAM - Elementary Schools
Terrific Kids is a character-building program that recognizes students for modifying their behavior. The program encourages kids to become the best version of themselves. Kids determine what being terrific means to them, then develop their own goals and use peer mentoring to hold themselves accountable for the actions they take each week. When a participant achieves their goal, her or she is recognized for being a Terrfic Kid.
BRING UP GRADES PROGRAM - Elementary Schools
Now you can empower kids to succeed in school. Bring Up Grades, or BUG, is a program that recognizes elementary students who raise their grades or maintain good grades from one grading period to the next. Students are motivated to excel because they set their own goals — and they participate in peer mentoring, which involves their classmates in their success. When they reach their goals, the entire class celebrates.
KEY LEADER - High School Students and graduating 8th grade students
Key Leader by Kiwanis is a weekend leadership program for high school and graduating 8th Grade students. Our mission is to inspire young people to achieve their personal best through service leadership. Key Leader has served more than 33,000 students at 660 Key Leader events in 40 U.S. states, 7 Canadian provinces, Malaysia, Brazil, Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, El Salvador and Singapore.
Learning Methods
The Key Leader program includes large and small group discussions, personal reflection time, a "challenge course," and video-based activities. Participants reflect on their values, learn to set goals, and walk through the 6 Key Leader Principles.
Service Leadership
The program is based on the idea of "Service Leadership" as introduced by Robert Greenleaf in his 1970 essay, "To Serve as Leader." He wrote, "Becoming a servant-leader begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead."
Personal Integrity
Participants learn and discuss how their actions reflect their personal values, and are introduced to "The Collector of Bedford Street." The documentary follows Larry Selman, a community activist and fundraiser who had an intellectual disability.
Personal Growth
Key Leader participants discuss the importance of personal growth. They learn to take calculated risks and to focus on incremental improvements for themselves and their community through videos, discussions, and a challenge course.
Respect
During the "Respect" portion of a Key Leader program, participants discuss and debate what it means to respect themselves, others in their community, and their surroundings.
Community
Participants learn to encourage and utilize the different interests and talents of those in their school and local communities for positive change.
Excellence
Key Leader participants end the weekend by learning goal setting strategies and using them to create a plan for their personal development and future as service leaders!
STAND UP TO BULLYING
Millions of children worldwide have experienced bullying at school. Any bullying hurts a child’s self-esteem, but at its worst, bullying could lead to high anxiety, bad grades, dropping out of school or even suicide.
The good news: You can help.
Kiwanis is taking a stand against bullying with the help of its Kiwanis youth leadership programs—K-Kids for elementary school students, Builders Club for adolescents and Key Club for teens. That’s why we’re providing educational information and powerful posters to help young people fight bullying in their schools and communities.
Kiwanis believes that:
- That service clubs, such as Kiwanis’ service-leadership programs, can be a solution to the bullying crisis faced by so many educational institutions today.
- That these service clubs have something to offer the potential target of bullying, in that he or she can use the vehicle of service to develop self-worth, confidence and leadership.
- That these service clubs have something to offer the potential perpetrator of bullying, in that he or she can use the vehicle of service to learn the power of kindness, generosity and positive purpose.
- That these service clubs have something to offer the potential bystander, in that he or she will learn that when one commits to serving others, doing nothing is no longer an option.
- That these service clubs have something to offer the schools, in that they contribute to a climate of giving, caring and acceptance.
- That education, expectations and oversight can ensure that our programs remain free from bullying.
- That our youth members should be leaders, through example and action, against bullying in their schools and communities, and work with trusted adults to bring about an end to this enduring problem.
HAZING
Hazing is a form of bullying found in some membership organizations. During hazing, members of an organization require potential or new members to do acts or receive treatment that makes them uncomfortable or could potentially cause emotional or physical harm.
Kiwanis believes:
- That hazing is a form of bullying and should never be tolerated in any Kiwanis-sponsored program.
- That hazing or bullying, if discovered, should be confronted. All current Kiwanis policies and appropriate state laws will be observed.
Through service, students learn about the impact they can make on their communities by giving, caring and sharing. Kiwanis-family youth become leaders who help create a safe, bully-free environment. Bully prevention also promotes Kiwanis-family values: serving the people around us, building better communities for ourselves and future generations, and showing others the importance of the Golden Rule.
Join Kiwanis in the fight to end bullying.
