PEACE – THE NEXT FRONTIER

 
In Rotary Year 2015-16, our district made a commitment to become a Peacebuilder District.  We began by making a contribution to The Rotary Foundation to provide support for the next class of Rotary Peace Fellows. We were delighted to learn that two of our peace scholar nominees were among those selected to receive fellowships.
We also made a commitment to wage peace wherever we can – in our local communities and in communities around the world. We have established a Peacebuilder Club program designed to enhance Rotary’s mission of ‘advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace’ through the promotion of programs and projects aligning with the six areas of focus and in particular the #1 Area of Focus – Peace, Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution. Priority is being given to youth and peace education projects and in gaining the assistance of the graduates of the Rotary Peace Fellowship program for local support.
In many ways everything we do as Rotarians to improve the human condition, supports peace. When you feed the hungry, improve educational opportunities for everyone or help create a climate for community economic development you are peacebuilding. When you see injustices and assist in removing them you are peacebuilding.  When you reach out a hand to people you don’t know, you are peacebuilding. 
Follow this link to our district website to visit the District Peace Page. This webpage is being enhanced to provide information on how you and your club can become peacebuilders in your own backyard. 
Consider a program where you show the Peace Is …  video  (which can be downloaded from the Peace Page link) at a club meeting and discuss how your Rotary club can help improve conditions in your community that contribute to peace. If we can eradicate polio and do it in our spare time, can our next goal – peace - be far behind.