Many Rotarians support the concept of Peace [though there is no clear definition of what Peace is]. While the decision to establish a Peace Endowment was made in 2005, it was 2008 before work to fund the endowment began and by 2017 the gifts as at 30th September 2017 are $156,321,477.
When we first established our Peace scholarship program 15 years ago we were almost unique. Now there are some 600 scholarships and we have no point of difference. Our scholarships remain amongst the most generous and the funding comes from Foundation funds as there is no requirement for districts which nominate scholars to contribute to the cost, though some districts give DDF.
The cost per student varies from University to University and in addition we provide an administration stipend to each University. The current cost per student is –
- University of North Carolina $121,355
- Duke $117,710 [plus combined stipend $106,162] [UNC and Duke share 10 students on a joint basis]
- ICU [Japan] $69,157 [Plus stipend $46,908]
- University of Queensland $66,465 [Plus stipend $54,453]
- Uppsala $62,488 [Plus stipend $123,325]
- Bradford $49,608 [Plus stipend $49,988]
- Each of these courses takes 10 new Peace Scholars each year.
- Chulalongkorn $9,912 [Plus stipend $ 131,453]. Chula is the 3-month Certificate course for 50 students.
The TRF staff and admin costs approx. $500,000 per year. The funding sources are:
- DDF $1,000,000
- Spendable from endowment $2,500,000
- Term Gifts $100,000
- World Fund $800,000
- Which gives a total of $ 4,400,000 for 100 scholars
- Plus the University stipends of $550,000 from the World Fund
It is not easy to find jobs that are directly related to Peace and 5% of our scholars are looking for work. Most find work 12/24 months after graduation. 37% work in NGOs, 22% in education, research and gaining additional degrees, 14% in government or military, 6% for UN agencies, and the balance are lawyers, police, journalists, etc. 29% work in North America, 22% in Asia, 15% in Europe. 12% in Africa, 9% in Australia & Oceania, 8% in South America, 4% in the Middle East and 2% in Central America. Around 5%-6% are Rotarians as against 3%-4% of other Foundation scholars.
There are a number of other Rotary Peace initiatives. French Rotarians have established and funded a Rotary Peace Chair in Lille and hope to fund another 6, we have several programs funded by Rotary and run in association with the Institute of Economics and Peace, a Peace Rotarian Action Group, several Peace Conferences and Symposiums, and there are a number of Peacebuilder Clubs and Districts. An Italian Rotarian is working to convince his university to establish a three-month course in Peace-building for refugees in Rome.
Our challenges are those identified in the Report from the US Institute for Peace.