In 1922, Rainbow was created for young women whose fathers were members of the Masonic Lodge, and their friends. Although a Christian minister named W. Mark Sexson founded the organization, today the leaders of Rainbow Girls respect and welcome all girls from every faith. Their main focus is more on the spiritual principles of being a kind and caring person. While the Rainbow practices and programs continue to evolve, the basic teachings of faith, hope, and charity remain a cornerstone of this dynamic girl’s youth group.
Today, there are more than 850 assemblies across the world that have bimonthly meetings. This is how the members learn standard meeting protocol and parliamentary procedure.
Adults are always present to provide support, guidance, and help interpret the rules. Members also learn to memorize meaningful lectures and to be prepared for extemporaneous speeches. Some meetings conclude with a presentation or unique entertainment.
In addition, members and advisors work on different service projects throughout the year.
Since November of 1951, world headquarters for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls has been located in McAlester, Oklahoma. This magnificent building was constructed for Rainbow Girls and funded by Rainbow Girls. It represents what can be accomplished when girls are empowered with knowledge, enlightened by travel, and energized by their own inner spirit.
Rainbow is a diverse, multicultural organization with assemblies located in Sydney and Adelaide. International Rainbow groups can also be found in Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Romania, Italy, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Philippines and the United States.
Value
The brilliant colors of the rainbow reflect what members learn. Move your mouse cursor over the colors of the rainbow to learn more!
The foundation behind every lesson supports 3 basic teachings:
- Faith in a supreme being and in others.
- Having hope in all that you do.
- Charity toward others.
Service-Minded Kids Succeed in School and in Life
There is something eternally special about a girl who gives back to her community. This is one of the basic teachings of Rainbow. Likewise, K-12 schools believe in nurturing service-minded generations and now require many students to volunteer on an ongoing basis, or complete a specific number of hours of community service.
High School and University
With University entrance requirements becoming more and more competitive, students need to fit a more diverse profile. Getting good grades and scoring getting a good ATAR are not the only things Universities review. They want to see students who take the initiative to be involved in their community and invest their spare time in volunteering. Walking a neighbor’s dog in years 11 and 12 in high school does not qualify! Students should start early. That’s why joining Rainbow is a smart investment in a girl’s future. In 2001, almost 83% of high school seniors said they volunteered before college.
Join Rainbow today for a better tomorrow because…
- Many high schools are requiring community service before graduation.
- Most colleges and universities look for high school students who have taken active roles in volunteering.
- Volunteering presents an awesome way for girls to experience different areas of work, making it less complicated when choosing a career path.
- Rainbow community service projects allow girls to network and meet with professionals for solid career guidance.
