Autor: hamburg-international

Semester Abroad  

Our member Malena Gerbino is currently spending several months in Edinburgh. During this time, she has the opportunity to dive into Scottish culture and, of course, into Rotaract and Rotary in Scotland. Here are some of her initial experiences and impressions: 

One of the most rewarding aspects of my semester abroad so far has been experiencing firsthand just how international the Rotaract community truly is.

As part of my double degree, I am currently spending several months in Edinburgh. Moving to a new city, starting at a new university and meeting so many new people naturally come with plenty of new impressions. It has therefore been particularly meaningful to find a sense of community through Rotaract from the very beginning.

I had the opportunity to introduce myself to both the local Rotaract Club and Rotary Club and was welcomed very warmly. 
On 11 September, I helped organise a Rotary event aimed at introducing the club to potential new members. I also attended a Rotaract meeting in Newcastle, England.
It was a great opportunity to contribute, meet new people and gain a first insight into club life here.

Experiences like this are a great reminder of what makes Rotaract so valuable to me. It is not only about getting involved and contributing to meaningful initiatives, but also about being part of an international community that creates genuine connections beyond your own city or club.

I am very much looking forward to the upcoming meetings, events and conversations, and to meeting many more people from the Rotary and Rotaract community during my time here.

Rotaract Edinburgh
Rotary Edinburgh

Waffle-Baking Event for the Night of Churches 2026

A brief look back at the waffle-baking event organized by Rotary Hamburg International during the 2026 Night of Churches at St. Peter’s Church in Hamburg. Thank you very much for letting us participate and lend our support. Here are some highlights:

Movie Night

Last Friday, Rotary Hamburg Fontenay hosted its fourth movie night at the Alsterdorf Foundation. We had the pleasure of attending for the second time. Our sponsor club, Rotary Hamburg International, also participated. Before the movie started, we enjoyed a delicious meal.
With pleasant weather and a great atmosphere, we watched the movie Juror 2.
Thank you very much to the Rotary Club of Fontenay for the invitation.
It was a wonderful evening. 

Board Member Spotlight – Marlow D. Guttmann



Meet Marlow Guttmann, President and Co-Founder of Rotaract Hamburg International. Marlow Guttmann

Marlow works in People & Organizational Development and is a TEDx Keynote speaker on leadership, artificial intelligence, innovation, and the future of work. His experiences in Germany, New Zealand, Italy, and Sweden have shaped his passion for building bridges and creating communities where young people can connect, learn, and make a difference together.

We asked Marlow five questions about his leadership journey and his vision for the club.

What inspired you to co-found the club?

“To be honest, it all happened quite naturally. We were a group of young people who wanted to build something international in Hamburg. We saw an opportunity to combine an international community with the Rotary and Rotaract spirit of friendship, service, and personal growth.

Our vision was to create a place where people feel welcome, regardless of where they come from, as long as they share our values and want to contribute. Seeing this community grow since our founding in February 2025 has been incredibly rewarding.”

How have your international experiences shaped you?

“Living in New Zealand, Italy, and Sweden taught me that there is rarely only one right perspective. People do not have to agree on everything. What matters is that we respect one another, remain curious, and continue learning. These experiences have shaped how I work, lead, and build relationships.”

What does leadership mean to you?

“I often compare our club to a social startup. We are growing, experimenting, and learning together, and everyone can help shape where we are going.

Leadership is not about having all the answers or always standing at the front. It is about creating an environment where people feel encouraged to contribute, discover their strengths, and take ownership. That is where intrinsic motivation begins.”

What moments have stayed with you most?

“It is often the small moments: new friendships, members supporting one another, someone finding a new job through the community, or an idea becoming a real project. I especially value seeing members bring in their own ideas and take responsibility. That is when you realise the club has become bigger than its founders. The community begins to shape itself.”

What is your vision for the future?

“My hope is that the idea behind Rotaract does not stop when people leave a meeting or complete a project. I hope our members carry this mindset into their workplaces, friendships, and communities. As a young generation, we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to help shape the future. If people continue supporting others, building communities, and believing they can make a difference after I hand over my role, then we will have created something much bigger than a club.”

District Trip to Spiekeroog

Last weekend, our District trip took place.

Around noon, we met at the harbor in Harlesiel to begin the approximately 12-kilometer hike across the Wadden Sea to the island of Spiekeroog. We started our crossing in light fog and reached the island under a mix of sunshine and clouds.

In the evening, we spent some time together at a bar, where we watched football before staying overnight at a youth hostel. The following morning, we made our way back, first by ferry and then by car.

It was a wonderful but challenging district trip.

Here’s a small photo recap.



Here are the websites of the other clubs that were also represented:
https://hamburg-city.rotaract.de
https://hamburg-port.rotaract.de
https://hamburg-club.rotaract.de
https://hamburg-alstertal.rotaract.de
https://hamburg-suederelbe.rotaract.de
https://kiel.rotaract.de
https://eckernfoerde.rotaract.de

District 1890:
https://d1890.rotaract.de


Rotary Kindertag Hamburg

On Friday, July 3, 2026, members of our Rotaract Club also supported Rotary Children’s Day in Hamburg. 
It was a day full of smiles, meaningful connections, and the joy of giving back.

As per our beloved Club Member, Ayesha:
“It was such a wholesome experience supporting “Kindertag Hamburg” at Hagenbeck Tierpark, spending the day with amazing children, including children with disabilities, and sharing so many heartwarming moments along the way.
From all the cute animal encounters to seeing the biggest smiles on the kids’ faces, every moment was a reminder of what community and kindness are all about. Being surrounded by fellow Rotaractors and Rotarians made the day even more special. ”

As our Club President Marlow Guttmann beautifully said:
„A truly wonderful Children’s Day, beautifully organized and full of smiling faces.
It was special to come together with Rotarians and Rotaractors and to experience the spirit of service and community in action.
Thank you to everyone who organized, supported, and helped on site.
Feeling incredibly grateful to be part of Rotaract Hamburg International and proud to serve our community. Here’s to making more memories and creating more smiles.“

Happy Day of the Seafarer!

Today, we celebrate and honor the seafarers whose dedication keeps global trade moving.

Rotaract Hamburg International was pleased to welcome seafarers to a BBQ gathering together with Deutsche-Seemannsmission Altona.

Seemannsmission Altona plays an important role in supporting seafarers visiting the Port of Hamburg. They provide practical assistance, a welcoming space, and a sense of community. ⚓🏠🤝
In recognition of this work, and the shared commitment to supporting seafarers, we were pleased to host the gathering together with their team.

We were especially proud to have our Vice President, Marc Arpon pictured here, join the event. As a former seafarer himself, he understands firsthand the challenges, sacrifices, and commitment that come with life at sea.

This gathering was not only a way to thank the seafarers who serve the maritime industry every day, but also to recognize the important contribution of Seemannsmission Altona and to mark the beginning of a meaningful partnership between our two organizations.

We look forward to building on this partnership and delivering more impactful projects together in support of the maritime community in the months ahead. 🚀🤝⚓

Experiencing the Rotary Spirit and Strengthening Connections

On 20 June, the Rotary District Conference of District 1890 brought together more than 200 participants from across the district’s 83 Rotary clubs in the Hamburg metropolitan region.

The conference offered a valuable opportunity for exchange, connection and inspiration. Throughout the day, participants engaged in meaningful conversations, reflected on current and future initiatives, and experienced the Rotary spirit in action.

Among the highlights were impressions from the Rotary International Convention in Taipei, where more than 30,000 Rotarians and Rotaractors from over 120 countries came together. These insights served as a powerful reminder of the global reach of Rotary and the strength of a community built on service, friendship and international understanding.

The programme also included inspiring contributions, including a gospel choir performance and encounters with young Rotary Exchange Students from around the world. The Rotary Youth Exchange programme enables young people to live abroad, attend school, stay with host families and experience another culture first-hand.

Marlow Guttmann, President and Co-Founder of Rotaract Hamburg International, also attended the conference and took part in discussions around Speak Up and the Rotaract Germany Conference.

“Today once again showed how powerful the connection between Rotary and Rotaract can be. In the next Rotary year, we want to strengthen this bond, give our members more insight into the Rotary world and, at the same time, help Rotary better understand who we are as Rotaractors and what we can contribute,” said Marlow Guttmann.

Overall, the District Conference was a strong reminder of what Rotary stands for: bringing people together, building bridges across generations and cultures, and creating positive impact locally and globally.