YOU CAN HELP ROTARY RECRUIT PEACE & DEVELOPMENT LEADERS.

A Rotary Peace Fellowship equips fellows with advanced skills, knowledge, and networks to become effective catalysts for peace.

You can help promote peace in the world by encouraging peace and development leaders in your community to apply for a Rotary Peace Fellowship.

Article by PDG Murray Verso, Chair D9800 Peace Fellow Selection Committee

Each year, Rotary awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships for peacebuilders from diverse backgrounds to study at one of our peace centres located at leading universities around the world. This year, we’ll select 50 peace fellows to study in our master’s degree programs at six partner universities in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the United States and 80 fellows to participate in our professional development certificate programs at Makerere University in Uganda and Bahçeşehir University in Türkiye.

Rotary and Rotaract members can help find candidates within their networks and community organizations. It's easy to use our referral form so potential candidates can receive more information about applying.

These Rotary Peace Fellows were at the 2023 Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, and engaged with members, attended donor events, and participated in panel discussions and breakout sessions to share information about their fellowship experiences and peacebuilding work.

Here are some strategies and tips to help recruit Rotary Peace Fellows:

• Use Rotary and Rotaract meetings, events, and newsletters to raise awareness about the Rotary Peace Fellowship.

• Invite Rotary Peace Fellows to speak at Rotary meetings and share their experiences.

• Use social media platforms to share peace fellowship graphics as well as stories, testimonials, and information about the Rotary Peace Fellowship program.

• Post information on your club or district website, including a local contact name for potential candidates to reach.

• Use relationships with local universities, institutions, nonprofits, and community leaders to identify potential candidates. Send them the Application Announcement.

• Reach out to professional networks, such as those involved with peace and conflict resolution, refugee assistance, environmental issues, and public health and education.

Here are some ways you can mentor and support candidates:

• Seek the assistance of your District Peace Fellow Subcommittee Chair.

• Encourage candidates to start the application process early to ensure they meet all requirements and deadlines.

• Offer mentorship to candidates, guiding them through the application process and reviewing their resume, essays and personal videos.

• By helping them to understand Rotary values and service, it will ensure a more competitive application.

• Provide a club or district recommendation as part of their application.

 

To learn more, contact your district Rotary Peace Fellowship subcommittee chair or district Rotary Foundation chair, or write to rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org. Take the All About Rotary Peace Fellowships course available in the Learning Centre in multiple languages.

More than 1,800 Rotary Peace Fellows have been trained since the program began in 2002. In our Zone, District 9800 in Victoria has produced more than 40 of them, probably more than any other district in the world.

Rotary members, clubs and districts have the power to shape the next generation of peace leaders both by recruiting and recommending peace fellows, and by keeping them engaged during and after their fellowships.