Rotary Working for Peace

The UNHCR estimate that nearly 108.4 million people worldwide have been forced to flee their homes in 2022 because of War and Conflict- around half are children. The majority of them are internally displaced and 76% of the people are supported by low income countries. 80% of the world’s displaced people ended up in countries or territories affected by acute food insecurity and malnutrition. 

Rotary cannot resolve this global tragedy on its own, but what we can do is make a difference by sponsoring Peace Projects. Members also pursue projects to address the underlying structural causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.

Each year Rotary awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships at one of the peace centers. The Scholars and Peace Fellows normal go on to work in International and local organisation who are working for peace. Rotary also supports local projects in various community groups. We also provide grants to encourage project and activities in our District. Rotary is an International organisation which enable Rotarians to think globally but act locally through the network of clubs.  

Breaking news

A new peace center is being formed in Turkey, it will be inaugrated May 2025.

Peace information

Each year, Rotary awards up to 50 Masters Degree Fellowships for 15-24 months study at one of five premier universities throughout the world, and up to 80 Professional Development Certificates for those working in peace-related fields who want to enhance their professional skills through a shorter 3 month study programme at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand or Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.

Read more about the Peace Fellows supported by our Rotary District.

Read more about the application process for Peace Fellowships.

Thames Valley District Working for Peace

Local clubs have been helped through Peace Grants and we encourage clubs to apply for district grants to help with their projects. The page on local projects includes details of youth counselling projects to help young people deal with victimisation and threats. Clubs help young people who have literacy problems train and help them to find jobs, which helps them to avoid a life of crime and violence. Clubs have created Peace Gardens and help bereaved families. Many of the clubs support refugees and groups that support people who have been victims of domestic violence and abuse, while others support mediation and community groups. 

We also support the Peace Advocates Project. This is an initiative led by Rotarians in Scotland and supported by Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland. We have one school working on this project in district so far. 

Download the leaflets to read more about the project. 

Peace Project information sheet

Peace Project trifold leaflet

We look forward to reporting on the local school project soon.

Peace, Conflict Resolution and Prevention play an important part of the work of Rotary Clubs in the Thames Valley.  

updated September 2022