A Message from the District Governor
Dear Fellow Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Friends of Rotary in District 7080,
February is a significant month in the Rotary calendar, designated as Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month. This month is not just a time for reflection but a call to action for all members worldwide and in our district to address the root causes of conflict—such as poverty, inequality, and lack of education. The timing is also symbolic: February 23rd marks the anniversary of the first Rotary meeting in 1905, a day now celebrated globally as World Understanding and Peace Day.
Action in District 7080
Our district is particularly active in this area with several initiatives and many dedicated members who work actively towards a more peaceful world.
Key efforts within District 7080 include:
The District Peace Committee: This committee under the leadership of PDG Kathi Dick is a resource for local clubs, helping them identify peacebuilding initiatives and providing educational opportunities. The mission is to eventually have every club in the district designated as a Peacebuilder Club. To find out more about this initiative please get in touch with the Peace Committee.
Academic Partnerships: For the past three years, several clubs in the district have contributed $30,000 annually to fund Masters students at Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo. The Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) program is a coursework-based, professional degree that empowers students with the knowledge and skills to contribute to nonviolent peacebuilding. Combining a rigorous interdisciplinary scholarship with experiential learning opportunities, the program provides graduates with the tools to understand sources of conflict, polarization, and systems of violence, as well as to imagine and initiate transformative peacebuilding.
Community Mediation: Beyond global issues, the district emphasizes "peace at home" by training members in conflict resolution skills that can be applied in workplaces, families, and local community disputes.
Global Programs and Initiatives
At the international level, Rotary’s commitment to peace is anchored by several high-impact programs designed to train the next generation of peacemakers:
Rotary Peace Fellowships: Each year, the Rotary Foundation awards fully funded fellowships to leaders who pursue master's degrees or professional certificates at one of the several Rotary Peace Centers located at premier universities worldwide (including locations in Sweden, Australia,Uganda, Turkiye and now also in India). If you have a potential candidate for this fellowship please see the picture below and nominate a candidate.
Positive Peace Activators: Through a partnership with the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Rotary trains "activators" to apply a data-driven framework for building "Positive Peace"—the attitudes, institutions, and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies.
Intercountry Committees (ICCs): These groups promote peace by fostering relationships between clubs in different nations, often bridging divides in regions historically marked by tension.
Let us all Unite for Good for a more peaceful society and world, beginning here in our District and expanding this effort around the globe. One way to hopefully achieve this is by living and spreading Aloha. (Living Aloha is to live with kindness, compassion and harmony. Living Aloha is a journey, not a destination.)
Yours in Rotary, Susanne Zbinden District Governor 2025-26 District 7080