The Rotary Club of Plettenberg Bay believes that our future lies in our youth and it is for this reason that the club's prime focus is on youth development project . Some years ago a Bursary Fund was formed with the intention of financially assisting deserving young people who wish to further their tertiary studies at a University or Technicon. An important principle of the fund is that no capital can be used and only interest earned is used for study grants. Despite this limiting factor, a total of fifteen students have received assistance and eight have completed their studies and qualified. These students have qualified in obtaining Degrees and Diplomas in such subjects as Petrochemical Engineering, Social Science, and B.Comm.
Internal Auditing, LLB., Agriculture, Electricity, and Agricultural Management.

Other ongoing youth development projects include the development of much needed sports facilities and equipment at the ten local schools in the Greater Plettenberg Bay area. At one high school without even a basic sports field, it was necessary to engage an earthmoving contractor to professionally cut and level the ground before a grass planting exercise, using parents and students, could be organised. To complete the "wish list" requirements of all ten schools, an amount of R1 million will have to be raised.

Financial assistance and expertise is being provided to make the dream of a Skateboard Park for the youth in Plettenberg Bay a reality. A crèche that services 110 children will get the six toilets and washbasins that they need and this will enable them to qualify for social grant funding. Within the Rotary District there are other youth programmes available for leadership development and four students are sponsored on the 'Adventure into Citizenship' project each year. This project encompasses exposure, through visits, to places like, Parliament, The High Court, Robben Island, Museums and Groote Schuur Hospital.

Obviously, of great importance in youth development is the cultivation of an ethic of community service work and this is achieved through Rotary Interact Clubs, which are run at high schools. Such a club has been in existence for many years ago at the Plettenberg Bay Secondary School and the Interactors are encouraged and assisted to devise and run their own community projects.