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This is the first of four quarterly instalments of ‘Young Voices’, where we invite young people who have taken part in youth social action to share what they’ve been doing, why it matters, and the support that they need.
This quarter, we have Evelyn Chen, aged 25, who is the Partnership Coordinator of the London Rotary Club, the Junior Branch, where she forges strategic alliances with local and international organisations to amplify community service efforts. She has secured partnerships with over 20 groups and launched city-wide initiatives that empower young professionals to drive sustainable social change.
Acting for Impact: Youth Social Action with Rotaract London
On a cloudy Saturday in London, I found myself surrounded by bin bags, trowels, coffee cups, and karaoke lyrics. This wasn’t your average weekend – it was Act for Impact Day, a global call to action for Rotaractors around the world. And for us at Rotaract Club of London, it was a full day of community service, connection, and compassion.
The Rotaract Club of London is a youth-led community service group for students and young professionals, supported by Rotary International. It offers members aged 18-30 opportunities to lead service projects, build skills, and form lasting connections. The club runs local and global initiatives, workshops, and social events, empowering members to take initiative and create meaningful impact in their communities.
Rotaract’s (Rotary’s Junior Branch) 18–30 membership range bridges the gap between student life and early career, letting members apply and deepen leadership skills as they settle into work and civic roles. Extending beyond 25 also feeds Rotary with experienced, committed recruits and fosters peer learning – young members gain insights from those further ahead, while older members stay energised by fresh perspectives. This broader span ensures lasting impact and a smooth transition into lifelong service.
Youth social action often gets framed as “nice to have.” But this day reminded me – and everyone involved – that it’s essential. Not because we solved poverty or reversed climate change in 12 hours, but because we showed up. We created space. We took action.
A Day That Mattered
The day began with litter picking in Whitechapel, one of London’s most diverse and densely populated areas. We weren’t just collecting rubbish, we were confronting a deeper issue: who feels responsible for shared spaces? As young people, it’s easy to feel like these problems aren’t ours to fix. But it turns out, when we act like they are, people notice – and join in. Passersby thanked us, asked questions, and in one case, grabbed a bag to help.
From there, we moved to Hervey Road Sports Field, where we partnered with a local community group to support their urban gardening project. We weeded, planted, and sweated through the afternoon. Gardening may seem far from activism, but it’s the small, physical acts of care – putting your hands in the soil, protecting public green space – that build long-term community resilience.
Later, we walked to Greenwich Park for what was possibly the most quietly impactful part of the day: hosting an informal coffee & conversation session. Young volunteers sat with older residents, local passersby, and even tourists, offering warm drinks and open ears. It wasn’t complicated. But in a city where loneliness is widespread, simply having someone to talk to can be powerful. One woman told us it was the first real conversation she’d had in over a week.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Rotaract without a little joy. We ended with a social at Trafalgar Tavern and – perhaps fatefully – a karaoke session that tested our vocal limits. But community doesn’t grow in silence or spreadsheets. It grows in laughter, shared experiences, and spaces where people can be their full selves. For a lot of us, that’s what keeps us coming back.
Beyond the Day: Why This Matters
Act for Impact Day was a snapshot, not the whole story. As young people, we’re often underestimated – especially when it comes to leadership, service, or strategy. But what this day proved was what we already knew: youth social action works. It builds confidence, develops skills, and strengthens local networks.
Behind the scenes, organising this day required stakeholder management, budgeting, logistics, social media strategy, and contingency planning – all done by volunteers in their 20s. These aren’t just soft skills. They’re employable, transferable, and vital. Youth social action is often unpaid and unseen, but it’s some of the best training you’ll ever get.
And we need it now more than ever. With the cost of living crisis, worsening inequality, and increasing disconnection in urban areas, young people are often both the most affected and the most ignored. Yet we’re also the ones willing to take risks, rethink structures, and find new ways to make things work.
Looking Forward
Our goal isn’t to do “one-off” projects. It’s to build a culture of active citizenship, where young people lead change at the local level. That might mean expanding the Act for Impact model into monthly service days. Or working with local authorities to co-create youth-led volunteering initiatives. Or simply being consistent – showing up again and again, no matter how small the action.
At its core, youth social action isn’t just about volunteering. It’s about redistributing power. Giving young people the tools, trust, and space to change things – and then getting out of their way.
Rotaract gave me that space. It’s a space where people care deeply, act deliberately, and still find time to belt out 90s hits in a riverside pub. And I genuinely believe that if more young people had access to these kinds of experiences, the world would look different.