Promoting peace the world over – and Poles help to spread the word

Seventy million people are displaced as a result of conflict, violence, persecution and human rights violations, and unfortunately 50% are children!

Rotary International refuses to accept conflict as a way of life. Rotary projects provide training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflict.

Rotary invests in future leaders through their Peace Scholarship for secondary, undergraduate or graduate students. So far more than 350,000 scholarships have been awarded to students around the world.

Rotary International invests $7.5m each year in order to promote peace and conflict resolution. Rotary has established seven Peace Centres around the world, partnership with local universities in Thailand, Tokyo, Australia, Zimbabwe, Sweden, USA and England, where students can study as Rotary Peace Ambassadors. Rotary seeks to create environments of peace and one of the ways they do this is by establishing Peace Poles to bring communities together to engage and celebrate peace in their locality.

To date over 250,000 Peace Poles have been erected in nearly every country of the world, some at notable locations. On the pole is written, “May peace prevail on Earth” in different languages.

Peace Poles serve as a tool to initiate meaningful conversa- tion around peace education.

Peace Poles are an inspiration to others to take action for peace. The more we can inspire, the more peace action will follow, creating a more peaceful world for all.

At every Rotary meeting we toast peace and Rotary the world over, and with the current conflict in Ukraine and other parts of the world, it is needed more now than ever before.

The Rotary Club of Peterborough Ortons is holding a Quiz With A Difference on 31 March at 7pm at Ormiston Bushfield Academy. The money will go to help needy children attend this year’s Kids Out fun day at Wicksteed Park. You can also enjoy a delicious ploughman’s plus supper. The cost is £12 per person, bring a team of 6 or come individually - you will be most welcome. To book your team, email nickcottingham@ hotmail.co.uk

The Rotary Peace Pole in Bourne .