Program areas at Kiwanis International
Leadership education/development and communication - kids need Kiwanis; for more than 100 years Kiwanis has been building and developing leaders at all levels and all around the world. Kiwanis offers a unique brand of leadership through service to others. A major focus for Kiwanis is the development of leadership educational materials for their club, division, district, and International officers. It is important to educate club officers on how to lead and operate a club, to educate lieutenant governors on how to lead a division, to educate district officers on how to lead and operate a district, and to educate the board of trustees on how to lead the International organization. With effective leadership at all levels, the mission and function of Kiwanis clubs and Kiwanis International, serving the children of the world and in our communities, can be carried out effectively.
Service leadership programs - for more than 90 years Kiwanis has been building and developing leaders at all levels, offering a unique brand of leadership through service to others. Kiwanis sponsors various programs for youth, young adults, and adults with living disabilities, that can change lives. Through Kiwanis service leadership programs, youth and adult members can earn scholarships, learn with friends and help their communities and the world. Programs such as k-kids, terrific kids, bringing up grades, builders club, Kiwanis youth programs, Inc., key club, key leader, circle k, and aktion club are programs sponsored by Kiwanis and it is through these programs that the youth participants are empowered to make such an impact. By investing time in these programs, Kiwanis members and others sow the seeds of service. A large part of what Kiwanis does is to sponsor these youth and young adult organizations to perform community service activities just like Kiwanis clubs do. Kiwanis is still very instrumental in sponsoring all of our youth programs; however, the day-to-day operations of the programs for builders clubs, k-kids, and key leader are now managed under Kiwanis youth programs, Inc.
Kiwanis meetings and International convention - the annual Kiwanis International convention is held in various countries and locations from year-to-year, in which it brings together up to 5,000 Kiwanis members and guests from around the world. It is the single largest global gathering of Kiwanis members, representing more than 70 countries. Workshops, educational sessions, dynamic educational speakers, motivational events and conducting the business of the organization are the main focus of the event.