International Service Organizations

A lion is a large feline. A rotary is a circular junction. An amnesty is a pardon. These are three completely different things. However, did you know that they have something in common?

An international service organization is usually a voluntary non-profit organization where members perform charitable works in at least one country by raising money for other organizations or by direct hands-on efforts. It is defined by its service mission, not ideological motives. Although there are clubs exclusive of ideological motives, it is not the reason why they are considered a service organization. It still boils down to their service mission, regardless of the ideologies involved. Here are some examples:

Lions Clubs International

Considered the largest secular service organization in the world, Lions Club International (LCI) has more than 44,500 clubs and over 1.4 million members in over 200 countries around the world. The group aims to meet the needs of communities on both local and global scales. Founded in the United States in 1917, the club is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. At the local, region, district and international levels, members are expected to exemplify their motto “We serve.” Today, the club focuses in many programs such as sight, hearing and speech conservation, youth outreach, environmental issues, diabetes awareness and international relations.

Rotary International

An organization of more than 32,000 Rotary Clubs in more than 200 countries, Rotary International has more than 1.2 million members worldwide, known as Rotarians. The organization strives to bring together professional and business leaders to encourage high ethical standards in all fields, provide humanitarian aid, and achieve world peace. Inspired by their motto “Service above self,” Rotarians usually meet for breakfast, lunch or dinner every week to create an opportunity to organize projects on their service goals.

Amnesty International

More popularly known as simply “Amnesty,”Amnesty International aims to undertake research and action to prevent and end human rights abuses. Founded in the United Kingdom in 1961, Amnesty fixes attention on human rights campaigns for compliance with global standards. It exerts pressure on individuals who perpetrate human rights abuses by mobilizing public opinion. Recognized as a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and awarded the United Nations Human Rights Prize, Amnesty promotes freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination.

Now that you know the largest international service organizations, you may have already figured out what connects a lion, a rotary and an amnesty.