Peace Program

Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards up to 100 fellowships to the world’s most dedicated and brightest professionals to study at Rotary Peace Centres, located in universities around the world. Through training, study and practice, Rotary Peace Fellows become leaders and agents for peace and conflict resolution.

Ten of the Peace Fellows study for their Master degree at the Australian Rotary Peace Centre at the University of Queensland. The students are sponsored by a Rotary club in their home country and by a Brisbane district club.

As part of the program, District 9705, through the sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise and working with the Australian Rotary Peace Centre at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, hosts the current cohort of Rotary Peace fellows on a study visit to Canberra. The visit helps extend the students’ understanding of Australia’s peace and conflict resolution activity in the region and around the world.

The students are introduced to historical and cultural attractions in the national capital and are assisted in making contacts that will be useful in their future professional life. The program and visit assist the district in promoting this unique and ambitious event. This action-packed program is usually facilitated by Garth Britton from the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise. In 2023, Garth was assisted by fellow club member Bruce Osborn and Hans Bachor from the Rotary Club of Bungendore.

The Peace Fellows visited the Canberra Nara Peace Park where they rang the Rotary Peace Bell, and did a tour of the Museum of Australian Democracy and the Academy of Science.

Over the years, the Canberra visits have been very much appreciated by the Peace Fellows, who are always grateful to the organisers and the home hosts who provide accommodation during their visit.

With the two major wars currently occurring in Ukraine/Russia and Israel/Palestine, it is more important than ever that we work with our Peace Fellows to advance world understanding and provide communities with the necessary skills to resolve conflicts.

MAIN PICTURE: University of Queensland Peace Fellow Ogunyale A. Olatunde visited Canberra in September 2023 on a study visit, hosted by District 9705.