GPC-3: Peace Resiliencies: Within and Across Communities
This interactive session organized by Rotary Peace Fellows and Peace Activators explores peace resiliencies in Africa and Europe. It will focus on peacebuilding in local contexts: right from deconstructing the neocolonial approach to peacebuilding, to repurposing mental health for practitioners on the field. The session will also explore the art of collaborations across and within communities. The agenda includes high-level overviews from topical experts followed by in-depth discussion in break-out rooms.
Speakers:
Leonard Githae is the deputy executive director of the Midrift Human Rights Network ('Hurinet') in Kenya. Together with Dr. Rob Worral, he has delivered a modular Place Based Leadership Development programme for leaders across sector and place in Nakuru, Baringo and Nairobi Kenya with emphasis on equipping leaders to localize solutions for social transformation in the “Place.” He also has wide ranging experience in planning and scheduling of project goals, defining resources and scheduling for project and program implementation milestones and deliverables, as well as reporting and putting in place strategies for contingency planning, risk mitigation and monitoring and evaluation. Leonard studied Bachelor of Education (BEd), Maths and Geography from Moi University and has a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Management from St. Paul’s University. He is undertaking a Master of Arts in Development Studies.
Millie Rono is a practicing counselling psychologist. She holds a Diploma in Communication from the Kenya Polytechnic, a Bsc. in Psychology from Egerton University and is undertaking an Msc. in Psychology from the University of South Wales. She is a Focal Person for Mental Health and Psycho-social Support (MHPSS) Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) Providing Psycho-Social Support and volunteer Training in South Rift Region; a Trained Network Counsellor for Independent Medico Legal Unit (IMLU) and is a member of the Branch Management Committee of Kenya Red Cross Nakuru as Health Officer. She is also a member of Kenya Counsellors & Psychologists Association (KCPA) as well as a Eunice Kennedy Shriver Fellow.
Bill Benet is an activist, educator, and researcher who developed the Polarities of Democracy theory through his doctoral and post-doctoral research at the University of Toronto. He has over 60 years’ experience in politics and social justice activism. He served in the US Army from 1965 to 1968, followed by 28 years in the Monroe County Legislature in Rochester, New York, including five years as Majority Leader. Dr. Benet currently holds academic appointments as a Dissertation Committee Chair with Walden University’s School of Public Policy and Administration, and an Associate Researcher with the University of Toronto’s Adult Education and Community Development Program. He also is a Co-Founder and Senior Fellow of the Polarities of Democracy Institute.
Pietro Uzochukwu Macleo is a Rotarian from South-East Nigeria and a thought leader in peacebuilding works. He is the National Coordinator of Activating Positive Peace in Nigeria, and Chairman of Gray Child Foundation. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations and a PhD candidate of the prestigious University of Abuja. He is a chartered conflict manager, chartered diplomatic manager, an Ambassador of the Institute for Economics and Peace (Australia). He is a member of the Tony Elumelu guild of Judges, and Nigeria Sector Representative for West Africa Business Forum 2021. He is a fellow and senior member of several local and international institutes and organizations, he is a Board member and Secretary General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR Alumni) Nigeria. He is a peacebuilding researcher, peace advocate and practitioner. He moderates, and participates in community-driven peacebuilding programs, socio-political dialogues and key stakeholder engagements. He engages scholars and frontline practitioners on ethno-religious facets of conflict, community peacebuilding, and human security. He works extensively in conflict transformation, prevention and countering violent extremism, psycho-social support and intersection of peace values in Nigeria.
Moderators:
Moses Chavene is a Rotary Peace Fellow (2015, Chulalongkorn University) and program officer at the Midrift Hurinet Human Rights Network in Nakuru, Kenya. He works on intersectoral urban violence prevention.
Master Dicks Mfune is a Rotary Peace Fellow (Chulalongkorn University) and a peace cultivator who wants to contribute towards sustainable peace and development of nations. He is a lecturer at the University of Malawi and in addition he conducts training, consultancy and research in the areas of peace studies, conflict management, capacity building, human resource development, and strategic planning. He is a graduate of Bocconi University (Italy).
Discussion Facilitators:
Sellah King’oro is a Rotary Peace Fellow (Chulalongkorn University), peace and conflict analyst, mediator and gender expert who has contributed to reconciliation/dialogue processes among communities in parts of East and West Africa. Currently, she is a Senior Gender Advisor with the British Peace Support Team Africa. Previously, she was the Assistant Director of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission in Kenya where she worked for over eleven years. Prior to her appointment at NCIC, she was a researcher at Development Policy Management Forum, a Programme Officer at Peace and Development Network and a chairperson of the Conflict Analysis Group at the National Steering Committee of Peace Building and Conflict Management in the office of the president (Kenya). Sellah holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from Kisii University and two post graduate diplomas from Bradford University, UK and Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.
Maciej Witek is a Tokyo International University graduate with an MA in International Relations, a former diplomatic trainee at the Delegation of the European Union to Japan, and language support at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He is currently based in Poland, where on top of attending the European Academy of Diplomacy, he serves as a director of the Polish branch of the Japan-Poland Youth Association, and the founder of Global Society – an NGO promoting intercultural communication. Maciej is currently working as a Communication Officer at the Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan (GPAJ) and Kyoto Peacebuilding Center (KPC). He has recently been selected as a 2023-2025 Rotary Peace Fellow.
Bhawna Solanki is currently a Rotary Peace Fellow pursuing MSc Sustainable Development at University of Bradford, UK. Previously, she has pursued MBA in Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Management in India. She is a CSR and Sustainability professional and has spent 13 years in the development sector playing various roles in NGOs (International Resources for Fairer Trade, Door Step School), MNC (CG Power & Industrial Solutions) and a Business School (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies). As a facilitator, capacity building expert, consultant and researcher she has worked for safeguarding labour rights in supply chain, focused on community initiatives to promote social equity and undertook research in the area. While at Bradford, she is exploring the linkages between sustainability and peace building.
Wale Adeboye is a Rotary Peace Fellow (2019, Chulalongkorn University) the founder and Head of Programs, Research and Partnerships West Africa Responsibility to Protect Coalition (WAC-R2P), an independent multi-disciplinary research and cooperation think tank on human security. Adeboye has previously worked as a journalist, policy analyst, project coordinator, and researcher for the US Department of Defence, Rotary International, Budapest Center for Atrocity Prevention, and others. During the last 15 years, ‘Wale has worked on atrocity crime prevention, conflict mediation, and early childhood literacy empowerment in Africa. Among his current engagements, he is secretary and anglophone West Africa focal person for the Global Action Against Mass Atrocities (GAMAAC). Additionally, he is a member of the UN/UNESCO Advisory Group on genocide education in Africa, which aims to strengthen the educational capacity of African educators so they can educate people about genocide and prevent atrocity crimes in their own countries. In addition to being an expert on mass atrocity crimes prevention and intervention, Wale is a certified negotiator, a mediator, and a blended learning tutor. He specializes in assessing the risks associated with transnational security threats and hate crimes prevention. In addition to conducting gender analyses and managing local, community, and national projects, he has also taught at universities in Nigeria, Uganda, and the United States. He received a PhD from Nigeria's prestigious University of Ibadan.
Ignatius Emeka Onyekwere is a Rotary Peace Fellow (University of Brandford) with over 20 years of working experience with civil society organizations (WANEP/WACSOF), regional economic communities (ECOWAS), international development agency (USAID) in the areas of human security early warning and response, Peacebuilding and conflict prevention programmes. He is a chartered mediator and a researcher on security sector reform with experience on strategic planning for security and development within West Africa and the lake Chad Basin. He is currently a Senior Consultant with the Fragile and Conflict-Affected States (FCS)- Impact Netherlands. Also, he is a Consultant with African Development Bank and the United States Institute for Peace. Prior to these roles, he was the Early Warning Advisor at Fund for Peace for the USAID West Africa- Reacting to Early Warning and Response Data (REWARD) project support to ECOWAS. In addition, Ignatius was the Conflict Sensitivity Advisor at the Global Affair Canada-Field support Services Project Nigeria. Ignatius holds a PhD in Peace Studies, Master of Arts degree in Conflict Resolution and a Postgraduate Diploma in Research Methods for Social Science- all from the University of Bradford, UK. Besides, he holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Chemistry from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. He is a Rotary Peace fellow Alumnus (2007-08) and Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Ambassador.
Olusina Ajao is a Peacebuilding and Conflict Management expert. He has over ten years of professional experience in security, conflict prevention, disaster management and community development. Currently, he serves as the Assistant Head of the Gender Unit at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. He works with the relevant stakeholders to build capacity in gender equity, women empowerment and response to Gender-Based Violence cases. Olusina was awarded Peace Fellow at the Makerere University Rotary Peace Center (Uganda) in 2022. He is an alumnus of the Hague Academy for Local Governance (Netherlands) and the Koffi Annan International Peace Center (KAIPTC), Ghana. He possesses a Masters Degree in Society and Development Studies and belongs to the Society for Peace Studies and Safety Practice (SPSP). Olusina has also served in a voluntary capacity at different places. He is passionate about his work and always willing to commit to projects that target youths, development and peace-building.
Gibson Zulu is a Zambian and 2022-24 Rotary Peace Fellow studying Global Studies with a concentration on Peace and Conflict Resolution at the Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center. He has 9 years of work experience in refugee protection, solutions and coordination from Zambia, Liberia and Ethiopia. His last assignment was as Head of Field Unit in the Sherkole Refugee camp in Ethiopia for the United Nations Refugee Agency. Before that, he was an Associate Field/Durable Solutions Officer in Zwedru/Harper in Liberia after concluding missions as Durable Solutions Associate and Resettlement Assistant in Solwezi and Mongu/Kaoma with UNHCR. Gibson joined UNHCR in 2011 as a resettlement intern. He holds a BA in History from the University of Zambia where he won the best academic performing student award twice and the most improved athlete award in 2009. In 2013, he won $13,500 through a global resource mobilization competition that got 50 refugee dropout kids back into high school. In 2021, he bagged a UN Regional Bureau award for innovative efforts in saving 5000 refugees during the debut of COVID-19. He evaluated the Multi-Year, Multi-Partner Protection and Solutions Strategy Frameworks for Zambia and Liberia respectively. Resettling the most vulnerable refugees from indigence in refugee camps to mature economy countries where they lead meaningful lives without the need for international protection has been the most fulfilling aspect of his career.
Luz Carreno is a current Rotary Peace Fellow (International Christian University) and a social justice advocate who has experience working in public schools, nonprofits, and young female empowerment programs. Prior to becoming a Rotary Peace Fellow, Luz worked for different nonprofits that advocated for and empowered refugee and immigrant communities in Utah. She has also worked with first-generation English Language Learners, where she oversaw after school programs that provided educational resources and encouraged these students to continue their higher education. As the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, Luz has been very involved with the Latinx Creative Society which is an organization that raises awareness about Latinxs in Logan, Utah through literary and media arts such as poetry, short story, documentary, and filmmaking. Luz is currently working on a master's degree in public policy and social research with a specialty in peace studies from International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo, Japan. In addition, she holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Utah State University in Logan, Utah (USA).
Florence Maher (Rotary Peace Fellow, 2018-2020 International Christian University) is a social scientist, international civil servant, and former diplomat. She helps governments and technical experts build multistakeholder coalitions to develop data-driven international policy. She is currently working at the OECD on the human aspects of nuclear technology, including gender, leadership, and diversity. As a previous U.S. government official, she worked on integrating research-backed social science methodology on conflict into U.S. foreign policy; international cooperation on cybersecurity policy, anti-terrorist financing, sanctions, export controls, and nuclear nonproliferation; and consular affairs. She received a master's degree in public policy and social research with a specialty in peace studies from International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo, Japan. In addition, she holds bachelor's degrees in economics and political science from Howard University in Washington, DC (USA).
Joel Weaver is a Rotarian and Rotary Peace Activator. He holds a PhD from Walden University’s School of Public Policy and Administration. His specialty area concerns global governance and how international nongovernmental organizations (INGO) are increasingly filling governance gaps left by governmental organizations and nation states. He currently works in the United Kingdom as a defense contractor supporting United States European Command.
Maria Guadalupe de Jesus Rivero Rodriguez is currently a Doctorate in Public Administration with the research: "Public governance in the construction of peace and citizen protection in Mexico." She has eleven years of experience in the private initiative and the Academy; she plus eight years in the federal public administration and twelve years collaborating with the third sector. She is a member of Rotary International since 2011, she has been responsible for Service Projects, Rotary Foundation and Public Relations. In the governorships he has participated in the water committee and two years like Chairman of the Peace and Conflict Prevention. She was Committee and responsible for the coordination of the 2nd. Latin American Symposium #SomosPaz (we are peace), and the Health for Peace Program. She is promoting the signing of the resolution for the disarmament of nuclear weapons to be presented to the United Nations. She is part of Committee and Secretary of the International Affairs Committee, Africa Chapter.
2023 GLOBAL PEACE CONFERENCE (GPC-3): Over 24 hours of peace talks, skills-based workshops and networking
Do you care deeply about your community and looking for ideas to bring about positive change?
Join us on 4 March 2023 for the third 24-hour online Global Peace Conference: an exciting, interactive convergence of thought-provokers, peacebuilders and everyday people building peace in their spheres of influence.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL AGENDA
The theme of this year’s conference is “Strengthening Our Peacebuilding Community”. This theme is an extension of our desire to connect our planet with people power, towards a peaceful and just existence for all. This year’s 24-hour conference has programming in four global geographical regions, with plenaries and skill-building sessions, covering all time zones across the globe and enabling anyone, anywhere, to participate.
This volunteer-led initiative of Rotary Peace Fellows and other members of the broader Rotary peace ecosystem is based on the premise that everyone has the power to change the world. We work in civil society, academia, and government. We work in conflict resolution, sustainable development, and business. We are change makers in our community wherever we are based across the globe, and have a passion to transform conflict into growth and potential.
This 24-hour Global Peace Conference is not a typical academic conference or business networking opportunity. Our value is in dialogue and in collaboration, so everyone—YOU included—has a part to play in making our conference meaningful.
The event will feature:
Local peacebuilders from all over the world
Interactive sessions at all time zones
Ample opportunity for training and networking
Join us by registering above! The conference is free of charge thanks to the generosity of volunteers and donors from the Rotary peace community, including Carol Fellows and Tim Bewley. The Red Dot Foundation also provided technical support to realize this session.
If you would like to make a donation to help keep future conferences free and inclusive, please click here. Thank you for your support!
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS AFTER THE CONFERENCE?
During the inclusive, open planning meetings to prepare for the conference, it was decided to develop a conference declaration setting out positive peace as a unifying concept to unite Rotary Peace Fellows, other peacebuilders, and the Rotary family. The goal is also to articulate a vision for the conference as a vehicle to strengthen the Rotary peace ecosystem and to build relationships with and elevate grassroots peaceubilders. Please provide feedback on the draft conference declaration:
COMMENT ON THE DRAFT HERE
Thank you for your constructive input!