Through service projects, peace fellowships, and scholarships, Rotary members are taking action to address the underlying reasons for conflict and finding ways to prevent it.

Can any of us really remember a time when somewhere in the world there has not been conflict of some type? The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been seething for decades and this month marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Conflict between the various ethnic factions in Myanmar began in 1948 and and has continued in varying degrees ever since, making this the longest civil war in the world. Currently, there are civil wars and terrorist insurgency in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Rotarians know that peace doesn’t come easily; it must be worked for, at many levels and often over many years. That is why peace building and conflict prevention is one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus. In fact, peace is so important to Rotary that the month of February is devoted to it. And what a fitting time to recognise and promote peace - we have just celebrated Christmas - a time of peace and goodwill.

Each year, the Rotary Foundation awards up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and up to 40 for certificate studies at premier universities for Peace and Conflict qualifications. Through academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centre program develops the capacity of peace and development professionals to become effective catalysts for peace. The fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses.

Many of the graduates go on to careers in national governments, peacekeeping and law enforcement agencies, education and research institutions and international organisations such as the United Nations and World Bank.

The University of Queensland (UQ) is home to one of the five dedicated Peace Centres located around the world offering Masters Degrees. Here students study for their masters degrees in Peace and Conflict Resolution. Master’s fellowship recipients cannot study at a Rotary Peace Centre in their home countries so students from Australia have studied at Uppsala University in Sweden; University of Bradford in England; the International Christian University in Tokyo Japan; or Duke University and University of North Carolina in USA.

Students who attend Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand graduate with certificates in Peace and Conflict Prevention.

Since the Peace Fellow program became in 2022, the Peace Centres have trained more than 1,600 fellows who now work in more than 140 countries.

Like many good things, peace must be introduced to us when we are young and learning. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “If we are to reach real peace in this world … we shall have to begin with children”. Providing Peace Poles to primary schools in our District and across Australia is just one example of a peace project that is inspiring our children.

Note: Applications now open for 2024 peace fellowships - see separate article in this newsletter for details.