Club Resources:  Become a Peacebuilder Club

District 5240 has made a commitment to be a Rotary Peacebuilder District.  By doing so, we also made a commitment to build peace wherever we can – in our clubs, in our local communities and in communities around the world.
 
District 5240 established the Peacebuilder Club program to support Rotary’s mission of advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace through the promotion of programs and projects aligning with the seven areas of focus of The Rotary Foundation, especially Peace and Conflict Resolution.
 
Peace is not just an absence of conflict.  Causes for lack of peace include:
 
  • Internal conflicts and oppressive governments creating an environment that engenders violence and unrest.
  • Extreme poverty resulting in poor health, sickness, malnutrition, and disease.
  • Injustice and inequality causing frustration and lack of trust in institutions.
  • Pervasive hopelessness that things will not get better in the future causing civil strife.
  • Limited access to clean water, adequate food, shelter, sanitation, and economic opportunity resulting in lack of self-esteem.
A District 5240 Peacebuilder Club is committed to diminishing the root causes of conflict: the need for food, water, shelter, health care, literacy, jobs, and human rights. A Peacebuilder Club engages in activities that break this cycle of devastation and despair.  It helps create an environment of peace by supporting education and literacy, clean water, sanitation and hygiene, access to healthcare, protection of the environment, and community economic development.
 
Everything we do as Rotarians to improve the human condition in the global community builds peace.  When you feed the hungry, improve educational opportunities for everyone or help create a climate for community economic development you are building peace. When you see injustices and assist in removing them, you are building peace. When you work to improve the environment around us, you are building peace.  When you reach out a hand to people you don’t know and who will not know you, you are building peace.
 
This Rotary Year the world is dealing with unprecedented  conditions that challenge the establishment of peace  in our communities and throughout  the world.
 
Show your commitment to peace by becoming a District 5240 Peacebuilder Club.
 
For more information email the District Peacebuilder Club Team at peacebuilderclub@district5240.org
 

Rotary Peace Fellow Program

Each year, Rotary selects up to 130 professionals from around the world to receive fellowships to study at one of our peace centers. Through academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Fellowship program develops leaders who become catalysts for peace and conflict prevention and resolution. These fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and all internship and field-study expenses.
 
The Rotary Peace Fellowship is the premier academic scholarship of The Rotary Foundation, supporting Rotary’s mission to empower, educate, and increase the capacity of peace builders through rigorous academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities. Through this experience, Rotary Peace Fellows build the skills needed to become leaders and catalysts for peace and conflict resolution both in their communities and around the globe.
 
The fellowship is intended for individuals who have chosen a career related to international relations, peace, and conflict resolution; who have work experience in these areas; and who have a commitment to community or international humanitarian service and to working for peace. https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/peace-fellowships
 
Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and 80 for certificate studies at premier universities around the world
 
  • Master’s degree programs: Accepted candidates study peace and development issues with research-informed teaching and a diverse student body. The program lasts 15 to 24 months and includes a 2-3-month field study, which participants design themselves
  • Professional development certificate program: Experienced leaders gain practical tools for promoting peace and international development during an intensive one-year program that includes 3- month of university study, 9 months of field training, and then a return week to the university for additional learning with a diverse group of peers.
Peace fellowship candidates must meet these requirements:
 
  • Proficiency in English; a second language is strongly recommended
  • Demonstrated commitment to international understanding and peace
  • Excellent leadership skills
  • Master’s degree applicants: a bachelor’s degree and a minimum three years of related full-time work or volunteer experience
  • Certificate applicants: minimum five years of related full-time work or volunteer experience 
In just over a decade, the Rotary Peace Centers have trained more than 1400 fellows for careers in peace building. Many of them are serving as leaders at the UN or other international nonprofit peace organizations around the world.
 
For more information, contact the District 5240 Peace Fellow Advisor Mike Weaver, email: amweaver@pacbell.net