Rotary is the perfect vehicle for making a positive impact toward world peace. There are few other non-religious groups the size of Rotary, which are so globally united in their actions and interests.
1.2 million Rotarians work together worldwide to bring about peaceful societal systems by carrying out projects that deepen their communities’ commitment to a more prosperous, healthy, fair and tolerant society through programmes funded by The Rotary Foundation, focussing on:
Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
Disease prevention and treatment
Water and sanitation
Maternal and child health
Basic education and literacy
Economic and community development
Environment
Rotary Peace Centres offer 100 Peace Fellowships per year and have trained more than 1,300 Fellows since 2002 to become experienced and effective catalysts for peace.
Many Rotary Peace Fellows now serve as leaders at international Organisations, such as the United Nations and the World Bank or started their own foundations.
PEACE THROUGH SERVICE
Formed in 2012, the Rotarian Action Group for Peace and its 160 Peacebuilder CLubs worldwide are dedicated to providing peace education, guidance and resources to further world peace by supporting Rotarian peace builders.
Rotary has organised Youth Exchanges for over 60 years. Every year individual clubs sponsor about 9,000 students to spend a year with host families in another country to attend local schools and colleges.
We know that a peaceful world cannot long exist, one third rich and two thirds hungry.
James Earl (Jimmy) Carter Jr., American, b.1924
Nobel Peace Prize 2002
Rotary played a significant role in the establishment of the United Nations. Today, Rotary holds the highest consultative status offered to a non-governmental organisation by the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council and is represented in many regional United Nations bodies.
In 2017 Rotary partnered with the Institute for Economics and Peace, an independent think tank which pioneers a conceptual framework for peace to create and sustain sound business environments, well-functioning governments and the free flow of information.
There can be no peace in the world so long as a large proportion of the population lacks the necessity of life and believes that a change of the political and economic system will make it available. World peace must be based on world’s plenty.
Lord John Boyd Orr, British, 1880-1971
Nobel Peace Prize 1949