Email:

Contact@Rotary5160.org

Peace & Conflict Resolution

Each year, Rotary selects up to 100 professionals from around the world to receive fellowships to study at one of seven worldwide Rotary Peace Centers hosted by eight universities. In almost two decades, the Rotary Peace Centers have trained more than 1,400 fellows for careers in peacebuilding. Many of them are serving as leaders at international organizations or have started their own foundations.
Through academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centers 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.

ROTARY PEACE CENTERS

    • Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA

      Fellows can earn either a Master in International Development Policy from Duke or a master’s degree in various departments from the University of North Carolina. In addition, Fellows at both Duke and UNC can earn a graduate certificate in international peace and conflict resolution from the University of North Carolina.

    • International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan

      The Department of Public Policy and Social Research offers master’s degrees in social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary studies.

    • University of Bradford, Bradford, England

      The Department of Peace Studies at Bradford is the largest in the world and offers several master’s degrees.

    • University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

      Fellows earn a master’s degree in international studies and peace and conflict studies in the Graduate Centre of Governance and International Affairs.

    • Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

      The Department of Peace and Conflict Research offers a master’s degree in social science. It is internationally renowned for its free and globally accessible collection of data related to conflict.

    • Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

      The professional development certificate is awarded to experienced professionals who complete the university’s intensive three-month program in peace and conflict prevention and resolution.

    • Makere University in Kampala, Uganda.

      The 10-month program integrates theory, research, and practice for peace and developmental leaders who are from Africa, have worked in Africa, or work with African communities or initiatives outside the continent. Fellows will learn how to influence policies and initiate action to transform society through positive peace.

THE ROTARY PEACE CENTERS PROGRAM HAS A VISION OF

      • SUSTAINABLE PEACE
      • ENCOMPASSING A NETWORK OF PEACE BUILDERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
      • DEDICATED TO PREVENTING AND RESOLVING CONFLICT

Building Peace! Listen and watch the video about Rotary peace fellows tell their stories. (YouTube)

SAMPLE PROFILES OF SUCCESSFUL PEACE FELLOWS

  • A career civil servant charged with mediating local disputes over political and environmental issues, who plans to develop and implement better social and environmental policies and training models for his or her home government
  • A health care professional who has provided medical care and training to the poor in war-torn countries and plans a career in international public health
  • A humanitarian aid agency project officer who has created microcredit loan programs for AIDS widows in sub-Saharan Africa and plans a career in economic development through poverty reduction
  • A social worker who has counseled child soldiers and plans to work to prevent conflict by creating regional mental health facilities that offer reconciliation and forgiveness training programs
  • A career military professional who worked in protective operations and plans to introduce conflict prevention and resolution methodology to the nation’s armed forces
  • An educator who works with youth from different religious and ethnic groups, facilitating projects that will create greater understanding and prevent future conflicts
  • Rotary Peace Fellows come from many walks of life.

Eligibility requirements

  • Strong commitment to international understanding and peace as demonstrated through professional and academic achievements and personal or community service
  • Excellent leadership skills
  • Proficiency in English; proficiency in a second language is strongly recommended
  • Master’s degree applicants: minimum of three years of related full-time work or volunteer experience, bachelor’s degree
  • Certificate applicants: minimum of five years of related full-time work or volunteer experience, strong academic background

Eligibility restrictions

Rotary Peace Fellowships may not be used for doctoral study. The following people are not eligible for the master’s degree program: Active Rotary members; Employees of a Rotary club or district, Rotary International, or other Rotary entity; spouses, lineal descendants (children or grandchildren by blood or legal adoption), spouses of lineal descendants, or ancestors (parents or grandparents by blood) of any living person in these categories; former Rotary members and their relatives as described above (within 36 months of their resignation)

TIMELINE

  1. January- April: Districts and clubs promote the program and recruit well-qualified candidates. ROTARIANS talk with candidates to learn more about their background and which of the programs they are interested in, and direct them to the application at www.rotary.org/peace-fellowships to ensure that they understand all of the steps of the application process.
  2. March-May: Clubs interview and select candidates. Candidates submit completed applications (including recommendations, transcripts, and essays to the District by May 15th along with any club endorsements. All applications are done via the Embark portal managed by The Rotary Foundation. Applicants and clubs are ENCOURAGED to consult with the District chair prior to May 15th to discuss candidates and ensure the applications are complete. 
  3. June: District chair forms a committee to interview candidates and determine eligibility. Committee reviews applications and sets up interviews with qualified candidates. Districts complete district endorsement for each qualified applicant by 1 July. Districts notify applicants of their endorsement decisions by 1 July.
  4. July-October: The Rotary Peace Centers Committee, composed of appointed Rotarians and university representatives, screens applications and selects fellowship finalists.
  5. November: Districts and their candidates are notified of the results.
  6. Finalists then apply to the university for acceptance. (Being chosen for a fellowship does not mean that candidates have been admitted to the university.)

For more information, contact
Susan Cohen Grossman
Rotary District 5160 Peace Fellows Committee Chair
E-mail: susancg13@gmail.com

E-mail: susancg@concordcarotary.org
Telephone: 707-319-1053
OR
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
One Rotary Center
1560 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60201-3698 USA
www.rotary.org

Peace Program Nominee

Ali Reza Eshraghi was a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley when he met Pate Thomson and Mary Alice Rathbun of Berkeley Rotary Club. Pate and Mary Alice sponsored him as a peace fellowship applicant, the Berkeley Club agreed he was well qualified and then the District interviewed him. Ali was nominated in late June 2009 as one of the District 5160 candidates for peace fellowship. Rotary Foundation reviewed all candidates nominated and Ali was one of two nominees from District 5160 who was accepted. We obtained this news in late November 2009, however, acceptance by Rotary Foundation does not guarantee school acceptance. Ali submitted an application to the University of North Carolina (UNC) and then visited the university and met with professors. We just learned in March 2010 that UNC has accepted Ali into their Communications Studies program. He will get a masters degree, sponsored by Rotary and will be part of the group studying at the Duke/UNC Rotary Peace Center. Susan Cohen-Grossman

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Dear Rotary Friends,

With The arrival of the Persian new year on the very first day of spring, I wanted to share this joyous occasion with you. May the rebirth of the nature bring you peace, and happiness.

I also wanted to share my happiness with you that I have accepted by the University of North Carolina to study at the Department of Communication Studies. Having this opportunity would not be possible without your kind supports. Thank you.

Since I have started working as the editor of IWPR’ Iran Program in last January, several interesting articles have been published on our website. The readership of the website has also drastically increased and little by little it is finding its own place as a reliable source for those who are looking for information about Iran.

I particularly succeeded in establishing a network with seasoned journalists, academicians, and experts inside Iran as our main goal in this program is to enhance the local journalists and activists and to give them voice.

I believe this is a unique opportunity to provide a small but open door from within Iran to give reports and analysis about the incongruities and paradoxes in such times of turmoil, conflict and lack access to vital information.

I would greatly appreciate if you have a chance to visit the website and give me your comment and advice as it was always insightful and very much helpful to me.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Best,

Ali

Peace Fellows Video