Together, We Promote Peace by Rtn. Debbie Vance - Rotary Graphics
HEALING IN A DIVIDED WORLD
Dennis Shore Trustee, The Rotary Foundation 2023-27 — February 7, 2025
The month of February in the Rotary calendar is 'Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month'. Of course, it is also the month of Rotary’s 120th birthday anniversary and the connection is entirely appropriate.
Article by Dennis Shore Trustee, The Rotary Foundation 2023-27
Peace building is in Rotary’s DNA and is enshrined in the mission statement of both Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace
To underscore this commitment, RI President Stephanie Urchick is convening a Presidential Peace Conference in Türkiye on February 20-22, 2025. The event will coincide with the first cohort of Rotary Peace Fellows studying in Rotary’s newest Peace Centre, Otto and Fran Walter Rotary Peace Centre, in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, located at Bahçeşehir University (BAU) in Istanbul, Türkiye. The crucial need for skilled peace builders with specialised knowledge in this region is starkly evident.
Through The Rotary Foundation, for more than two decades Rotary has invested heavily in our Rotary Peace Centres to develop a cohort of skilled peace workers to help nations and individuals to dial down the causes of conflict. There are now more than 1,800 Peace Fellows committed to peace building who are making a difference in a world that is beset by conflict. These fellows work in more than 140 countries, serving as leaders in governments, NGOs, and other significant organisations.
The Rotary Foundation is pushing ahead to grow the number of Rotary Peace Fellows and will shortly announce the establishment of another Peace Centre, in the Asia region, to expand the opportunities to grow the cohort of Peace Fellows working to mitigate the factors working against peace in the world.
The Presidential peace conference through its theme of healing in a divided world will be a catalyst for Rotary members to build on and reinforce the work of Peace Fellows through the sharing of knowledge, suggestions, and considerations for peacebuilding projects, programs, and initiatives to help translate our mission statement into action.
Bookings for the conference have been sold out and there is a very long waiting list of Rotary members hoping to be part of this important forum. Whether we are able to participate in the conference or not we can all be part of Rotary’s army for peace and do our bit to conjure the magic of Rotary to do desperately needed good in the world.
