Enjoy the reading of this newsflash, intended for all Kiwanis members in Europe.

What would happen if the 420 million US dollars raised every year by Kiwanis members were no longer there?

How many more children would face hunger, fear or a lack of education?

Dear Kiwanians,

Kiwanis is not defined by numbers, titles or structures. Kiwanis lives through our Clubs – where we serve, build friendships and communities, and change children’s lives.

Strong Clubs. Strong Kiwanis.

We need Clubs that are visible, open and welcoming – where people of different generations and cultures feel that they belong. Because when people feel they belong, they bring their ideas, energy and willingness to make a difference.

The European Pathway gives us a strong foundation. Now it is up to us to bring it to life – in our Clubs, our Districts and through our members.

We live in a time when trust, dialogue and international cooperation are under pressure. That makes Kiwanis even more important. Let us be an organisation that connects rather than divides, listens rather than judges, and acts rather than simply talks.

And let us trust the next generation. Young people need a voice today – not someday. Through initiatives such as the Young Kiwanis Summit, European Youth Camps and European Visionary Leadership Team, we can connect generations and create new opportunities to lead.

Yes, we need growth – but growth with a purpose. Every new member, every new Club and every new idea means another opportunity to make a difference.

So, bring your ideas. Share your experience. Be open to change. And above all – take action.

Today, more than 449,000 Kiwanis members contribute around 420 million US dollars and seven million hours of volunteer service to give children food, education, safety and hope, year by year.

The future of Kiwanis does not begin tomorrow. It begins today!

It begins in our Clubs.
It begins with our members.
It begins with us. With you.

Together, let us make the next chapter of Kiwanis in Europe a chapter of courage, connection, growth and service.

For the children. For our communities. For the future of Kiwanis.

Thank you

Karl Lippitz
KI-E President 2026–2027

On 26 September, Kiwanis International-Europe opened its 2026–2027 year in Prague. Elio Garozzo handed over the presidency to Karl Lippitz of Austria, and the new Board took office.

The Board presented its strategic plan, which focuses on growing membership, strengthening service programmes and training, building partnerships and communicating our work more clearly. It also confirmed the Chairs and committees approved by the House of Delegates in Catania last May.

With a new team in place, Kiwanis International-Europe begins the year ready to build on what has been achieved and to take on new challenges. Our mission stays the same: putting children first, supporting our communities and, through service, building a better future for the next generation.

ONE YEAR, ONE JOURNEY, A LEGACY FOR THE FUTURE

As I conclude my year as President of Kiwanis International-Europe, I look back on 2025–2026 with great satisfaction and, above all, with deep gratitude.

We started from a major challenge: European Kiwanis had lost more than 5,000 members in ten years. We therefore needed not only growth, but a new way of working: more coordinated, objective-driven, closer to Districts and Clubs, and based on continuity. For this reason, 2025–2026 has truly been a PILOT YEAR.

NEW INITIATIVES AND GROWTH

We launched Green Steps for a Bright Future, turning sustainability into concrete action; the Visionary Leadership Team (VLT), giving young Kiwanians a voice in shaping our future; a new European Awards programme; and the reactivation of Training the Trainers, creating the foundations of a European training network.

The results in growth have been extraordinary: 34 new Clubs were chartered in Europe, the best result in recent KI-E history. We welcomed a new Club in Greece, began the return of Kiwanis to Portugal, and chartered 9 new Voices Clubs. Italy established the first Key Club District in Europe, while Romania also moved in this direction.

These results show that European Kiwanis still has enormous potential when energy, vision and collaboration come together.

THE EUROPEAN PATHWAY

The approval of the PP&Gs at the Rome Board provided an important governance instrument.

But the most significant legacy of this year is the European Pathway 2025–2028: a working method based on SMART objectives, annual targets, KPIs and systematic follow-up, designed to ensure continuity so that every new team does not have to start from zero.

Together with Karl Lippitz and Michel Tefnin, my successors, I had the privilege of developing and testing this approach. I believe this is one of the most meaningful legacies of my presidency.

THANK YOU – THE BATON IS PASSED

None of this would have been possible without the commitment of the Governors, Chairs and the entire 2025–2026 Team. My special thanks go to Michal Straka and Francesco Garaffa, and to my predecessor Gunnsteinn Björnsson for the foundations he built.

I also thank KI Presidents Michael Muhaul and Hope Markes, CEO Paul Palazzolo, COO Jeff Oatess, KI Trustees Maura Magni and J. Fadri Huder and all those who supported our European work.

And now, dear Karli, the baton is yours. I am confident that you will continue the path we have begun, together with Michel and Roger, strengthening KI-E and preparing the next European Pathway 2026–2029.

You have my full and unconditional support.

My hope is that KI-E will increasingly become a true centre of service, support and value for Districts, Clubs and members throughout Europe.

It has been an honour to lead Kiwanis International-Europe.

Elio Garozzo
KI-E President 2025–2026

In the historic Old Town Hall of Prague, we celebrated the European districts that completed Phase 1 of Green Steps for a Bright Future.

Launched under Elio Garozzo’s presidency and created by Giancarlo Bellina, this three-year project invites children and young people to care for the environment through real, local action, from planting trees and greening public spaces to running awareness programmes in schools. The goal is lasting impact, built club by club and country by country.

Phase 1 is complete. Next comes expansion across Europe.

Small green steps, a better shared future.

Giancarlo Bellina
KI-E Chair for Branding, Marketing & Communication

1 October: District Secretary Training | Webinar
13 October: Membership Training | Webinar
23–25 October: Membership Training | Ghent

Kiwanis International-Europe
info@kiwanis.eu

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