Promoting Peace

Peace Building

 

Over the last six years Kitchener Rotary has led the development of Rotary Peace Scholarships at U.W. Bringing together all five clubs in our cluster, $155,000 has been raised. So far, 20 Master’s Degree students have been awarded scholarships. At the same time, we have been working with four Departments to develop a new Specialization in Integrated Peace. This Specialization began accepting students this fall.

 

When Amin Khan came to Canada, he was given only $3000 from his father for the entirety of his degree—this money had to cover his food and accommodations, on top of tuition. He experienced a stressful and tumultuous first couple months of the term, trying desperately to find a job to make some extra money. Eventually, he learned about the Rotary Peace Scholarship, a fund in which five Kitchener-Waterloo Rotary clubs have contributed close to $155,000 since 2013. Within a week of applying, he received his first portion of funding. 

Amin Khan smiling at the camera. He is wearing a white dress shirt with a blue vest.
 

Other peace building we are involved in include:

 

The Rotary International Peace Park located at RIM Park on University Avenue in Waterloo

 

International Youth Exchange, which is a year-long student exchange in which teens learn to live in and get to know teens from around the world,

 

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) an intensive training program that brings together youth and young adults (age 18 to 26), to further develop character and leadership skills.

 

Youth Civics Forum, where members of Kitchener council teach students about the local government. Students work in small groups to develop a presentation regarding an issue that's important to them. Then students come to Kitchener City Hall and present their ideas and engage with members of council and/or the mayor.