By Christine Torres, Senior Marketing and Recruitment Strategist, Rotary Peace Centers
Rotary Peace Fellows at the Duke-University of North Carolina Rotary Peace Center, USA, can earn a master's degree from either university and a graduate certificate in international peace and conflict resolution from the University of North Carolina.
To promote peace, Rotary offers the Rotary Peace Fellowship program that empowers peace and development leaders from our communities to make a positive impact locally, regionally, or globally. Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards up to 50 fellowships for master's degrees and up to 80 for professional development certificates at premier universities. Rotary members play an active role in recruiting Rotary Peace Fellows through various outreach and promotional activities.
The application for 2025 fellowships is available online through 15 May 2024, so now is the time to get involved! Here are some strategies and tips to help recruit Rotary Peace Fellows:
Promote the program to Rotary and Rotaract members
- Share information about the Rotary Peace Fellowship with your club or district. Use Rotary meetings, events, and newsletters to raise awareness about the program.
- Invite Rotary Peace Fellows to speak at Rotary meetings and share their experiences.
- Ensure local Rotaract clubs are sharing the fellowship opportunity within their networks. Rotaractors who do not hold dual membership in a Rotary club are eligible for the Rotary Peace Fellowship if they meet the qualifications.
Leverage social media and online platforms
- Use social media platforms to share our application graphics, as well as stories, testimonials, and information about the Rotary Peace Fellowship program.
- Post information on your club or district website, including a local contact name for potential candidates to reach. Learning about Rotary values and service is essential for a competitive application.
Rotary Peace Fellows at the 2023 Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, Australia, engaged with members, attended donor events, and participated in panel discussions and breakout sessions to share about their fellowship experiences and peacebuilding work.
Engage with community organizations
- Build relationships with local universities, institutions, nonprofits, and community leaders to identify potential candidates. Send them the Application Announcement.
- Collaborate with faculty and career services to promote the Rotary Peace Fellowship opportunity to university alumni.
- Consider the people and organizations your club partners with to help spread the word. You can even refer someone you know.
Contact professional networks
- Reach out to professional networks, such as those involved with peace and conflict resolution, refugee assistance, environmental issues, and public health and education.
- Attend conferences, seminars, and events related to peacebuilding topics to network with potential applicants.
Offer mentorship and support
- Encourage candidates to start the application process early to ensure they meet all requirements and deadlines.
- Offer mentorship to candidates, guiding them through the application process and reviewing their resume and essays.
- Provide a club recommendation as part of their application.
Rotary members contribute significantly to the recruitment of qualified and deserving candidates. Together, we can equip future leaders to build peace and effect positive change worldwide.
To learn more, contact your district Rotary Peace Fellowship subcommittee chair or district Rotary Foundation chair, or write to rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org. Take the All About Rotary Peace Fellowships course available in the Learning Center in multiple languages.