WHEW! One year and thirty-three units later, Saba Tesfayohannes Kidane and Peter Mumo Gathuru have achieved their Masters Degree in International Studies at the USD/Joan B. Kroc Institute For Peace and Justice. Saba and Peter were among the first cohort of the new $25 million center financed by Joan Kroc. Joan’s intent is to have this facility be a font of learning, communication, and conference for those interested in fostering world peace and understanding…the same goal as our Rotary Foundation!

With this mutual goal, it was clear that we in District 5340 wanted a hands-on relationship in promotion of world peace and understanding…and our connection with the Joan B. Kroc IPJ was the answer.

Actually, our 5340 involvement began nearly five years ago when Dr. Cynthia Villis, Associate Provost at USD and member of the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club, and PDGs Steve Brown and Wayne Cusick laid the groundwork for this peace connection between USD and Rotary District 5340.

In 2000/01, the first recipient of our Donated Scholarship was Dr. Suhas Nambiar of the Gujarat Vidyapith University in Ahmedabad, India, Rotary District 3050. In 2001/02, our recipient was Genevieve Kyarimpa of Kampala, Uganda in District 9200. This year, the first official year of the Kroc IPJ, saw us bring Saba from Eritrea and Peter from Kenya…both in District 9200. Recently arrived from 9200, Kioi Mbugua of Kenya and Yohane Masara of Tanzania will be part of the second cohort at the Kroc IPJ.

These Rotary Ambassadorial scholarships are valued up to $25,000. In 2004/05, our District SHARE Committee has approved one scholar from 9200 to attend the Kroc IPJ. We would not enjoy this peace connection with the USD/KROC IPJ if it weren’t for Provost Frank Lazarus’s help with many fees and expenses.  Our gratitude is extended to Dr. Cynthia Villis for her on-going dedication and tireless work to assist the scholars. Other key players on the Kroc IPJ team include Drs. Lee Ann Otto and Joyce Neu. Today, we look for qualified scholars who also receive a Fulbright Scholarship and are from District 9200 where we have focused a large part of our international efforts over the past seven years. The financial input from Rotary, Fulbright, and USD combine to make this connection possible.

The real heroes in this program are the Host Clubs and their Host Club Counselors who “adopt” a scholar for the school year and make them feel welcome in San Diego. Their responsibilities include orientation of the scholar and settling in upon their arrival in San Diego, participation in club meetings at least once per month, involvement in club activities/work projects, and inclusion in District events. Please check out the Ambassadorial Scholars section of the District Directory…and feel free to invite these scholars to your club as they make an excellent program with interesting stories to tell of their homelands and experiences.