February is Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month. Today, over 70 million people are displaced as a result of conflict, violence, persecution, and human rights violations. Half of them are children. We refuse to accept conflict as a way of life.
Addressing the incoming district governors at the 2023 International Assembly in Orlando, Florida, RIPE Gordon McInally called upon the members to capture the world’s attention and lead the way toward possibilities far beyond our current expectations and he announced his theme: Create Hope in the World.
He noted that a significant way to bring hope to the world is to put a greater emphasis on peace. He cited the action Rotarians have taken in the past year to support the people of Ukraine after the invasion by Russia. Rotary has made humanitarian relief a priority, attracting more Ukrainian members in the process. But he shared that true relief won’t come without peace — not just in Ukraine, but in Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria and dozens of other places around the globe. “Peace is the soil where hope takes root,” he said.
Rotary projects provide training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflicts. Rotary creates environments of peace.