High school is not just about excelling in academics
but also about fun, friends, activities and clubs. One can have a memorable and life-changing experience by
joining Key Club International, which is the oldest and largest service program for high school
students.
The organization exists on thousands of campuses in Canada, the United States, Central America, South
America, Asia, Australia and many Caribbean countries. This inspiring club, which is a student-led
organization, helps by building character and teaching leadership through serving others.
Started in 1925, the Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International group and every local Key
Club is sponsored by a local Kiwanis club. Along with its core values, which are caring, inclusiveness,
character building and leadership, the organization offers various other services to its members.
These include personal enrichment, service-learning, college scholarships, vocational guidance, study-abroad
opportunities, liability insurance coverage, value-added benefit programs and subscription to the club’s
magazine.
The official colors of the organization — blue, white and gold — symbolize unwavering character, purity and
service, respectively, which are the objectives of Key Club. It aims to develop capable, competent and caring
leaders of the future through service. This is reflected in the club's motto, “Caring — Our Way of Life.”
Key Club's objective is to develop initiative and leadership, prepare its members for useful citizenship, and
offer experience in living and working together peacefully. The club aims to emphasize ideals that promote
good will, justice, righteousness and patriotism. It gives preference to the virtues of humanity and the
spiritual over materialistic standards.
It offers practical means for creating a foundation of enduring friendship, building better communities, and
providing unselfish service. Furthermore, it encourages development of intelligent, serviceable and active
citizenship, while promoting higher standards of scholarship, sportsmanship and social contacts.
Key Club’s Theme and Major Emphasis Program (MEP) brings together the efforts and energies of all of its
members into a particular area to make an international impact, and to train children to work together. One
of the key focuses of MEP, "Children: Their Future, Our Focus," achieves its mission through two components:
Service Initiatives and Service Partners. By working with its partner organizations — UNICEF, Children's
Miracle Network, Kids Against Hunger and March of Dimes — the club encourages volunteering and
fundraising.
The service initiatives are aimed towards a common goal and are created on a two-year basis for encouraging
hands-on service to children. The latest, 2008-2010 service initiative, “Live 2 Learn,” aims to build
literary skills and promote education, primarily focusing on children who are five to nine years old. Through
its various service initiatives the club works toward making a global impact and helping children around the
world.
The club also recognizes the hard work and exceptional service of clubs or members with awards given during
the annual convention of individual Key Club District organizations. In addition, at the annual convention,
members exchange ideas on Key Clubbing, co-ordinate efforts of individual clubs and give fellowships.
Students wishing to serve the community and contribute towards a better world should look into joining the
Key Club International•
Photo courtesy of www.sxc.hu/profile/duchesssa