February marks Rotary Peace Building and Conflict Prevention Month, a time for Rotary members worldwide to come together in celebration of their commitment to building peace and mitigating conflicts. With Rotary's Birthday falling on February 23, coinciding with World Understanding and Peace Day, this month holds special significance for the Rotary community.
Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Initiatives
Rotary's support for training, education, and practices related to peacebuilding and conflict prevention is crucial for transforming conflicts globally. The Rotary Foundation (TRF) plays a vital role in enabling Rotarians to advance these efforts by focusing on specific goals:
Enhancing the capacity of individuals and communities to transform conflict and build peace.
Training community members in peace education, peace leadership, and conflict prevention and resolution.
Providing services to integrate vulnerable populations into society.
Improving dialogue and community relations to manage natural resources effectively.
Funding graduate scholarships for professionals dedicated to peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
Eligibility Criteria for Global Grants
TRF outlines parameters for eligibility, specifying activities within the scope of peacebuilding and conflict prevention, such as group activities, training programs, and campaigns addressing conflict-related issues. However, certain activities, like peace conferences primarily involving Rotarians or programs focused on music or sports without robust peacebuilding aspects, are considered outside the scope and ineligible for global grant funding.
Elements of Successful Humanitarian Projects and Vocational Training Teams
Peacebuilding and conflict prevention global grants are sustainable, measurable, and community-driven. Sponsors are encouraged to set targets and identify measurements to track project outcomes. The success of projects is determined by their ability to contribute to sustainable progress in peacebuilding and conflict prevention even after Rotary clubs or districts complete their work.
Elements of Successful Scholarships
Global grants also support graduate-level scholarships for professionals pursuing careers in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. TRF considers various factors when evaluating scholarship applications, including the applicant's previous professional experience in the field, the alignment of academic programs with peacebuilding and conflict prevention, and the applicant's career plans related to peace and conflict transformation.