Peacebuilding Conversations Connect Communities

Preventing conflicts from escalating into violent crises is 60 times more cost effective than intervening after violence erupts, according to the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The partnership between Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI) and the membership service organization Rotary International aims to bring community-based solutions to prevent conflict in more communities. 

Through this partnership, MBBI expands its reach to equip Rotary clubs and districts with skills they can use to prevent and transform violent conflicts by training Rotarians and Rotaractors to be Peace Conversation Facilitators (PCF). A recent article, Peace building conversations that can lead to connecting communities, published by the Rotary Service blog highlights how Rotarians are becoming more involved and better equipped to impact communities around the world. Click here to read the article. 

Participants at the Peace Assembly World Cafe during the Presidential Peace Conference, 9 June 2017, Atlanta, Georgia, US.

Since the publication of the article, MBBI’s Rotary-Working Group (RWG) has continued to have a series of successes as well as interfaith dialogues in various communities.  The Group formed a steering committee focused on expanding and improving the training for the next District.  A cadre of Rotary Peace Fellows is also forming to become PCF trainers themselves. Please reach out to Scott Martin, 2017 Rotary Peace Fellow and Founding member of MBBI at smartin@mbbconsulting.org, if you are interested in joining the efforts.

For more information about MBBI-Rotary partnership, please contact us at ripartner@mediatorsbeyondborders.org.