FEBRUARY IS PEACEBUILDING AND CONFLICT PREVENTION MONTH

This month our District Governor, Swati has written about the theme of Peacebuilding and Confict Resolution. Here is an extract from her newsletter.

"February is a special month for Rotary as it is the month of Peacebuilding and Conflict Resultion. Rotary has utilised its network for decades to undertake service projects, support peace fellowships and scholarships, and create programmes like Rotary Peace Centres to foster sustainable, positive peace. 

On 8 February this year, Rotary International and Bahçeşehir University announced a partnership agreement to establish the Otto and Fran Walter Rotary Peace Centre in Turkey.

Positive Peace is more than just the absence of wars and violence. It involves creating and sustaining societies that allow everyone to prosper.

As Rotarians, we can contribute to positive Peace in many ways. It starts by understanding the needs of our communities and undertaking projects that address those needs within our capability.. District Grants and Rotary Foundation Global Grants can be used to support projects that help refugees and displaced people, provide medical assistance, and more worldwide.

Additionally, members can work with or join peace-focused Rotary Action Groups, Friendship Exchanges, Fellowships, and
Inter-Country Committees to promote Positive Peace further. 

The options are unlimited! Rotary offers up to 130 fully-funded fellowships annually to passionate leaders committed to promoting peace and development across the globe. These fellowships enable recipients to study at one of Rotary's seven peace centre programs. Over the past 20 years, more than 1,700 individuals from over 140 countries have been trained at Rotary Peace Centres for careers in peacebuilding"