Optimist International is known for the quality of its programs, its public speaking, literary and communication for the hearing impaired competitions. These competitions encourage young people to improve their performances, and the scholarships awarded allow the winners to continue their studies.

Lately, Optimist International established a new program on Internet Safety with the focus of providing Clubs with resources to educate both young people and their parents about potential dangers on the internet and offering information about safe practices while online. The program is divided in two sections, the first one, Adult Internet Safety Education, is offered to adult groups of any size in order to educate them about the dangers on the internet that young people can unknowingly fall into, the second one, Faux Paw, the Techno Cat, is designed for children in first through fourth grades and teaches about the dangers of Internet Safety through an animated story.