An article from Murray Verson, Rotary Club of Williamstown
Applications for 2027-28 Rotary Peace Fellowships will be accepted from 1 February until 15 May 2026. This year, Rotary will award up to 170 funded fellowships for experienced peacebuilders to study at one of Rotary’s eight university-based peace centres around the world.
Click here for Peace Fellow Application Form
The Rotary Foundation partners with universities in England, Sweden, Japan, the United States and Queensland to offer master's degrees and with universities in Uganda, Türkiye, and India to provide professional development certificates in disciplines related to peace and development. The Foundation pays for tuition and fees, housing and meals, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses.
Clubs and districts have the power to shape the next generation of peace leaders both by recruiting and recommending peace fellows, and by keeping them engaged during and after their fellowships. Clubs and districts do not need to provide funding to recommend fellowship candidates. Since the Rotary Peace Centers program began in 2002, more than 1,800 fellows have graduated from our programs to serve as leaders in governments, humanitarian organizations, educational and research institutions, and international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank.
District 9800 has successfully recruited, mentored, and built ongoing relationships with forty-five peace fellows, far more than any other district in the world. Our District leaders are enormously proud of our record of producing one or more peace fellows nearly every year since the program began.
Members of your club can help by promoting Rotary Peace Fellowships to qualified candidates. Please distribute the accompanying flyer through your networks, social media, and club newsletters. Invite suitable candidates to one of your club meetings and refer them to the District 9800 Peace Fellow Selection Committee.
For more information click on the flyer, or to seek a presentation at your club, please contact District 9800 Peace Fellow Committee Chair, PDG Murray Verso. E: verson@netspace.net.au