1. Developing Women Peacebuilders - a twelve month virtual training program in West Africa, started on 25 January 2021.

The goal of the project is to enhance the conflict resolution capacity in five West African countries (Nigeria, Cameroon, Liberia, Ghana & Sierra Leone) by developing a cohort of women peacebuilders. They will actively address conflict transformation in the local, regional and international contexts. 

The training will be conducted by Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI) who have successfully conducted similar programs, in partnership with Rotary, for women in Southeast Asia, Bogota Columbia, the Middle East and North Africa. Six districts contributed a total of $25,100 in District Designated Funds including $2,000 from D9570. In addition, ten clubs in other districts contributed a total of $21,600 cash, and the Rotary World Fund contributed $35,900. Thirty highly qualified women were selected from over 200 applicants.

The virtual Opening Ceremony of the West Africa Project was a great success on January 25, 2021. 65 people from Africa, US, and Australia attended. District 9110 leader, Olaitan Ojuroye, the MBBI Service Partners leader Prabha Sankaranarayan, and five of the program students spoke during the ceremony.

Here is a link to the 80 minute ceremony, which starts with a musical introduction. https://vimeo.com/504473553 The password to access the recording is: iptiopening

The first 50 minutes is quite interesting before it turns into general local Rotary chatter! The program Area of Focus is peacebuilding and conflict prevention. It is a wonderful example of our charity, The Rotary Foundation, clubs and districts around the world working together.