About Junior Optimist International – JOI

About Junior Optimist International – JOI

Junior Optimist International gives young people the opportunity to serve their communities. Students who are involved in Junior Optimist Clubs learn about and practice good citizenship, teamwork, communication and money management. They feel good about themselves and have high self-esteem.


Membership in Junior Optimist Clubs helps to develop friendships with others who share the same interests. There are opportunities for personal growth and leadership positions at Club, District, and International levels.

 Junior Optimist exposes Members to Optimism as a philosophy of life, provides Members with an improved sense of kindness, increased awareness for those in need, and a better sense of coping with cultural diversity. It also provides members the opportunity to complete community service hours required for graduation.


JOI Clubs and Sponorship

Optimist Club of St Louis
JOI Clubs and Sponsorship Program

The Optimist Club of St Louis supportsJunior Optimist International. Find out about our JOI Club sponsorship opportunity. 

Youth Scholarship, Essay, and Contest Opportunities

Youth Scholarship, Essay, and Contest Opportunities

Optimist International sponsors three scholarship contests for students to earn money to pursue opportunities in higher education: the Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CCDHH), the Essay Contest and the Oratorical Contest. The contests are conducted at the Club level, then Zone and Regional (if necessary) and at the District level. District-level scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundations and awarded by Optimist International. If you are interested in helping us run, sponsor, or host any of these scholarship contests please contact us today! 

Click below to find out more about:

Essay Contest

Oratorical Contest

Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing