Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center

From Protest to Policymaking: Nish’s Path to Peacebuilding ??????? A few weeks ago, first-year Rotary Peace Fellow Nishchhal Kharal led a powerful Brown Bag presentation on his journey from protest to policymaking. He spoke about his early activism in Nepal during the 2008 Constitutional Assembly elections, a time of political unrest and violent demonstrations. As a young activist, he helped lead the Anti-Bandha Campaign, opposing strikes and disruptions that impacted daily life.? In 2012, he co-founded We for Change, Nepal’s first youth-led organization, which has since empowered five generations of young leaders, engaged over a thousand youth directly, and reached more than half a million people. But leadership, he reflected, is also about knowing when to step away. ?? He pursued studies at the University of York, traveled to reconnect with his community, and began shifting from activism to “artivism,” using creative expression to build social movements. “Fame is temporary, but knowledge is sustainable. Investing in yourself pays the best dividends.”? Nish’s work now focuses on self-development and collective empowerment. Through Freedom Studio, he has created a space for artists and activists to collaborate, emphasizing that lasting change comes not just from strategic action but from emotional connection. “Activism is through the mind and strategy, but artivism is through the heart.”? ??♂? ?? His journey is a testament to the idea that true leadership is about evolution, resilience, and knowing when to listen as much as when to act. “Fear and change do not go together.” ?????? Thank you for sharing your story, Nish!? #Rotary #Rotarypeace #peacebuilding UNC Global Affairs Duke Center for International Development

On Monday, February 24, join several of our Rotary Peace Fellows for a facilitated dialogue session that seeks to strengthen community cohesion and break down divides across campus. This session will introduce a dialogue process that uses story-sharing to deepen community roots and foster cultures of local peace. Different to debate, which seeks to convince, and negotiation, which seeks to win, dialogue is a process of understanding and listening to learn.?This event is part of UNC's Carolina Engagement Week, which is organized by the Carolina Center for Public Service. Want to participate? Learn more and register at https://lnkd.in/e9D7-VfB. UNC Global Affairs Duke Center for International Development #Rotary #rotarypeace #peacebuilding

It's finally here! We're so excited to announce that registration for our 2025 Spring Conference is now OPEN! ?? Click here to learn more and register! https://lnkd.in/esdr-Jjy Our conference theme is "Stories of Peace: Centering Community for Collective Transformation". Class 22 fellows will present on their work in peacebuilding and development over the past two years of their master's programs. A special addition this year will also include an exhibition of the research posters our first-year fellows created for the Peace Innovation Showcase at Duke University. Over the next few weeks, Class 22 fellows will preview their presentations and speak on our socials about what the conference theme means to them, how their fellowship experience has prepared them to move forward as global peacebuilders, and much more. In the meantime, what are you waiting for? Sign up today! UNC Global Affairs Duke Center for International Development #Rotary #rotarypeace #peacebuilding

Are you a peacebuilding or development professional in MENA and interested in applying for the Rotary Peace Fellowship? The Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center will be participating in a virtual fellowship interest session hosted by the Rotary Club of Amman Citadel on February 17 at 6:30pm EEST/10:30am EST. Use the QR code to register to attend! UNC Global Affairs Duke Center for International Development Rotary Club of Amman Citadel #Rotary #rotarypeace #peacebuilding

We're excited to announce that applications for the 2026 Rotary Peace Fellowship are now open! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/d2wCjeb Each year, Rotary awards fully funded fellowships for peacebuilders from diverse backgrounds to study at one of our peace centers located at premier universities around the world. This year, our Center will select ten fellows to study peacebuilding and international development at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. Candidates have until May 15 to submit applications to The Rotary Foundation. Please help us promote the fellowship to the peace and development leaders in your community and encourage them to?apply. Thanks to generous support from donors to The Rotary Foundation and the dedicated participation of Rotary members, more than 1,800 peace fellows have trained at Rotary Peace Centers since 2002 and are working in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and development roles in more than 140 countries. UNC Global Affairs Duke Center for International Development #Rotary #rotarypeace #peacebuilding

The Duke-UNC First-year Rotary Peace Fellows have started their Theory and Practice of Conflict Transformation course, and the first class set an exciting tone for the semester. The course is taught by Alexandra Rose, who brings her experience as a former Rotary Peace Fellow at Duke-UNC and her passion for creative approaches to conflict transformation to her instruction. Classes this Spring are held at the Junction, a new space supported by Innovate Carolina. The setting is perfect for exploring how systems thinking and innovation can shape peacebuilding efforts. In the first session, Fellows visited the Ackland Art Museum, UNC-Chapel Hill for a unique introduction exercise. Each Fellow chose an artwork that answered questions like "Which piece reflects the peacebuilder you are today?" or "What symbolizes your philosophy or values in peacebuilding?" The choices were deeply personal, and no two Fellows picked the same piece of artwork. In the debrief, Alex led a discussion about how these artworks could anchor learning throughout the semester. The activity highlighted how personal experiences shape how we see both art and peace. It was the perfect way to start a course that’s all about rethinking traditional approaches to conflict transformation. We’re excited to see how this group grows and learns together this semester. Stay tuned for updates! UNC Global Affairs Duke Center for International Development #Rotary #Rotarypeace #peacebuilding

Our Fall 2024 newsletter is out! Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/evdXRhxY The past semester at Duke-UNC was filled with exciting initiatives from our fellows and alumni as they continue to make a global impact. From hands-on internships and innovative research projects to events that promote collaboration and new ways of thinking about our fields, this edition showcases the incredible work being done by our fellows to advance peace and development. We invite you to learn about the inspiring efforts that shaped this semester and the people behind them! Also, as we look forward to the spring, keep an eye out for news about our annual spring conference, which will be held on Saturday, April 5. Our theme this year will be?"Stories of Peace: Centering Community for Collective Transformation", and Class 22 fellows are already hard at work putting together their presentations. Registration for the conference will open the first week of February, so stay tuned for that announcement! Duke Center for International Development UNC Global Affairs #Rotary #rotarypeace #peacebuilding

We’re excited to share that Mustafa Rezaie, MFA,MIDP, a Class 21 Rotary Peace Fellow from Afghanistan, was recently featured in a story by the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy! As part of their 5 Things series, Mustafa reflected on the experiences he gained during the Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) program. ?? ???? ?? Read more about Mustafa’s journey and discover how the program equips leaders to drive meaningful change. https://lnkd.in/eRqYBnKT Interested in applying for the Rotary Peace Fellowship to study at Duke-UNC? Applications open in February 2025. Go to https://lnkd.in/dfgNt-A to learn more! Duke Center for International Development UNC Global Affairs #Rotary #rotarypeace #peacebuilding

Congratulations to our Class 23 Rotary Peace Fellows on this achievement - we can't wait to see where this work takes you! Read more about their envisioned peacebuilding projects this semester at https://lnkd.in/ebBUX4xf. Duke Center for International Development UNC Global Affairs #Rotary #rotarypeace #peacebuilding

“You’re now one of the ladies.” A simple statement that carries the weight of trust, acceptance, and healing. ???? In our latest blog post, Shai Tamari, a former Rotary Peace Fellow (Class 5 alumnus, UNC Chapel Hill) and current director of the Conflict Management Initiative at UNC-Chapel Hill reflects on teaching his Internal & Interpersonal Conflict Management course at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women. Through lessons in forgiveness and the creation of a supportive community, this class became a profound journey of connection and personal transformation for everyone involved. Read about how these 14 women inspired their instructor and each other to grow, heal, and embrace what it means to truly connect. ?“We built trust in a place where trust comes in limited quantities, and we created acceptance in a place where loneliness often rules.” Check the link in our bio to read the full blog post! ?#Rotary #Rotarypeace #peacebuilding? UNC Global Affairs Duke Center for International Development