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Rotary Area of Focus February: Promoting Peace  In the world today, over 70 million people are displaced as a result of conflict, violence, persecution and human rights violations. Half of them are children. As a humanitarian organisation, peace is a cornerstone of Rotary’s mission. Rotary believes that when people work to create peace in their communities, that change can have a global effect. Rotary encourages conversations to foster understanding within and across cultures. By carrying out service projects and supporting peace fellowships and scholarships, Rotarians take action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources. Rotary projects deliver training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflicts, trains adults and young leaders to prevent and mediate conflict, and helps refugees who have fled dangerous areas. Rotary’s Four Roles in Promoting Peace: Rotary and its members are - - Practitioners: Rotary’s work in fighting disease, providing clean water and sanitation, improving the health of mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies directly builds the optimal conditions for peaceful societies.
- Educators: Rotary Peace Centres have trained over 1,300 peace fellows to become effective catalysts for peace through careers in government, education, and international organizations.
- Mediators: Rotary members have negotiated humanitarian ceasefires in areas of conflict to allow polio vaccinators to reach children who are at risk.
- Advocates: Rotarians have an integral role as respected, impartial participants during peace processes and in post-conflict reconstruction. Rotary’s focus is on creating communities and convening groups that are connected, inclusive, and resilient.
Examples of Rotary Activities in Promoting Peace across the world:  Educating Refugees - A university president and Rotary Club’s efforts to educate and feed refugees in Nigeria. Empowering Youth – Young people from Rio de Janeiro’s infamous favelas find an outlet for their energy – and a chance at Olympic gold – through Rotary. Judo offers Brazil’s youth an escape from the slums. Bridging Cultures - Rotary Youth Exchange student learns understanding and appreciation of another culture and the key to global citizenship, progress, and peace. Fighting Myths - Hunted for body parts and isolated by fear, Tanzanians with albinism are finding new futures through Rotary programs that fight pervasive myths and stigmas. Rebuilding Lives - A Rotary Club in Canada is helping refuges from Syria. Rotary members in the small town of Nova Scotia took action to bring two families from war-torn Syria to their country where the refugees have an opportunity to begin a new life. Diane Wilkinson Chair, International & Foundation Committee |
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