The Kiwanis Name

The name “Kiwanis” means “we trade” or “we share our talents.” It was coined from an American Indian expression, Nunc Kee-wanis.

Kiwanians are volunteers changing the world through service to children and communities. Kiwanis members help shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, mentor the disadvantaged, and care for the sick. They develop youth as leaders, build playgrounds, raise funds for pediatric research, and much more. No problem is too big or too small. Why? Because working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone. When you give a child a chance to learn, experience, dream, and succeed, great things happen!

As Kiwanis clubs and members, we see it everyday!

The Florida District, comprised of the more than 200 clubs and over 5,500 Kiwanians within Florida. Florida is one of the largest and most successful districts in Kiwanis International.

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Kiwanis History

The Original Twenty-Nine Districts of Kiwanis International

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CKI – for college students

Circle K International (CKI) is the premiere university service organization in the world sponsored by Kiwanis International. With clubs on more than 550 campuses globally, programming is based upon the tenets of service, leadership, and fellowship. 

Key Leader – for youth leaders

Key Leader is a leadership experience for today’s youth leaders. It focuses on service leadership as the first, most meaningful leadership development experience. A Key Leader learns the most important lesson of leadership—leadership comes from helping others succeed.  

Key Club – for high school student
245,000 high school leaders from 24 countries unite every day to provide service in their homes, schools, and communities, and complete more than 12 million hours of service. Key Clubbers work to help eliminate HIV/AIDS in Africa, stop premature birth, and battle for the rights of children in their communities.

Builders Club – for middle school and junior high students 
Nearly 40, 000 middle and junior high students in 1,300 clubs in 18 nations contribute service to school and community while developing leadership and people skills. Builders Club members implement practical service-learning principles as they focus on supporting organizations that focus on the needs of children.

KKids – for elementary students 

K-Kids is a student-led community service club for elementary students that teaches members the value of helping others through participation in community service projects and club activities.

Terrific Kids is a student recognition program that promotes character development, self-esteem, and perseverance.  Students work with their classroom teacher and establish goals to improve behavior, peer relationships, attendance, or schoolwork.  Thoughtful, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Responsible, Inclusive, Friendly, Inquisitive, Capable.

Bring Up Grades (BUG) is a program designed to provide recognition to students who raise their grades into an acceptable range, and maintain or continue to raise them from one grading period to the next.

Aktion Club – for adults with disabilities

Aktion Club members in more than 200 clubs in seven nations allow adults living with disabilities to develop initiative and leadership skills through hands-on service. These adults return to the community the benefits, help, and caring they have received.