Frequently Asked Questions
What you need to know
1. How do I join?
Builders Club is open to any middle school or junior high student who wants to join. Each club and school principal has the latitude to set conditions for membership, so it varies from club to club. Generally, any student who is interested in performing community service can join. Not all middle schools have a Builders Club, though. Each Builders Club is sponsored by a Kiwanis club.
2. How do students benefit?
Middle school years bridge the gap between childhood and young adulthood. It is a crossroad in life. Young people need and want new and exciting personal development challenges that lead to the fulfillment of a happy and productive life. Builders Club helps build strong leaders for tomorrow...today.
Builders Club provides a way to form sound, personal values based on experiences in meaningful community-service activities. The members learn by doing. They learn organization, teamwork, and leadership. But the most important lesson they learn is that individuals working together can and do make a difference to the world around them.
3. Who sponsors a Builders Club?
Builders Club is program of Kiwanis International, a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Kiwanis clubs sponsor Builders Clubs. Kiwanis members recognize that young people today want to take an active role in solving problems and meeting needs of the world around them—whether that world is as small as a classroom or as large as a city.
One important way Kiwanis clubs serve their local communities is by sponsoring and supporting service organizations for young people. In high school, there's Key Club; in college, Circle K. In elementary schools, there's K-Kid clubs. Aktion Club is for adults with disabilities, and for Europe's young adults, there's Kiwanis Junior clubs. And, of course, Builders Club for middle school and junior high students.
The Kiwanis club forms the Builders Club by enlisting interest from the school administration, and then underwrites costs and provides adult guidance in concert with school personnel. Key Clubs and Circle K clubs often get involved with the Builders Club, providing excellent role models. Sponsorship by Kiwanis, Key Club, and Circle K is a winning combination because the ideals of voluntary service are shown by example.
4. What can a Builders Club do?
Whether the club is involved in a small project at school or is working with a Kiwanis club, Key Club, or Circle K club on a larger project, Builders Clubs can make their presence known. Some Builders Clubs:
- Sponsor a "Teacher of the Year" program.
- Provide a recycling collection point.
- Organize canned food and clothing drives to support local shelters.
- Adopt residents at a local senior citizens home.
- Take part in an adopt-a-highway program.
- Raise money for new playground or computer equipment, or other supplies and equipment need by their schools.
- Provide tutors.
- Raise money for local hospitals.
The possibilities are endless!!
For more information, contact Builders Club.
