Rotary Accepting Applications for World Peace Fellows

Humanitarian service organization to help future leaders become agents of peace

BEIRUT, January 21 - Rotary Clubs in the Middle East and other parts of the world will accept
applications in January for the 2011-2013 class of Rotary World Peace
Fellows. Launched in 2002, this innovative program is aimed at helping the
next generation of government officials, diplomats and humanitarian leaders
develop the skills needed to reduce the threat of war and violence worldwide.

"You only have to pick up a newspaper to realize how vitally important it
is that our world leaders be skilled in the arts of conflict resolution and
peaceful negotiation," said Dr. Michel P. Jazzar, Rotary representative to
the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in
Beirut.

Through a worldwide, competitive process, this program awards full
scholarships to up to 100 Rotary World Peace Fellows each year. The peace
fellows study at the six Rotary Centers based at leading universities in five
countries. Qualified applicants must possess an undergraduate degree, have a
minimum three years of professional experience and demonstrate a commitment
to peace and international understanding through their volunteer, academic,
and professional achievements.

"Rotary is a non-political, non-religious volunteer organization where
all cultures, religions and traditions are respected and merged to respond to
humanitarian needs," said Jazzar, who is a member of the Rotary Centers
Selection Committee and member of the Rotary Club of Kesrouan. "It is our
hope that these impressive Rotary peace fellows will go out into the world
and make a real difference in their home regions."

The Rotary Centers for International Studies are located on the following
campuses: International Christian University, Japan; Universidad del
Salvador, Argentina; University of Bradford, the United Kingdom (UK); the
University of Queensland, Australia; and - in a shared arrangement - Duke
University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C. In
addition to the two-year program, the Rotary Center at Chulalongkorn
University, Bangkok, Thailand, offers an intensive, three-month course aimed
at mid-level professionals in governments, non-governmental organizations,
and international industry.

The Rotary Centers for International Studies program is already showing
results. Currently, 454 alumni are making a difference in jobs within United
Nations agencies, the World Bank, and leading non-governmental organizations.

"A total of 16 citizens from the Greater Middle East and Central Asia
– including Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan,
Palestine, Tajikistan, and Turkey — have completed the program," said
Jazzar. "It is this growing network of peacemakers that makes us believe that
peace is possible."

Those interested in the program can apply through local Rotary clubs or
email rotarycenters@rotary.org for more information. The 2012 applications
will be available for download from the Rotary website beginning January
2010. Applications are due July 1st to The Rotary Foundation.

For more information, visit www.rotary.org.

Sandra Prufer, +1-847-866-3208, sandra.prufer at rotary.org, or Kiki Melonides, +1-847-866-3134, kiki.melonides at rotary.org, both of Rotary International