“We made a difference…..”
Young people coming together to start
“the quiet revolution…”
Youngsters from South west Scotland led the proceedings in the second
Rotary peace Conference in Edinburgh.
Rotarians, parents and teachers worked alongside young people to learn new skills to help them resolve any kind of conflict and transform it into success.
Key note speakers included Dr Azeem Ibrahim, Founder of Scotland Institute and Karyn McCluskey, Director of Violence Unit for Police Scotland. Their presentations informed and inspired the audience.
Rotary Peace Fellows from Congo and Sudan told their life stories, letting the young people see what life is like across the world.
Headteachers from the Primary and Secondary sectors demonstrated the importance of conflict resolution in their schools.
Breakout sessions were expertly led by the original Peace Advocates, who had returned from University to work with our young people and adults. They were ably assisted by current Peace Advocates from Kirkcudbright Academy and Douglas Ewart High School. Debates were held discussing current topics and skills were learned to help deal with every day problems. Lockerbie Academy and Dunbar Grammar School shared their Peace Projects and encouraged others to engage with The Rotary Peace Project.
A great day was had by all, especially noted by Dr Azeem Ibrahim who was “genuinely impressed by these young people” and wants to “work with them in Kirkcudbright in the future..”
Kirkcudbright Rotarian Jean Best who is the original founder of the Rotary Peace Project which is having a world wide appeal as well as a very strong local one was taken by surprise at the Conference when the District Governor Alistair Marquis announced that not only had Jean been nominated for the Rotary Award Champions of Change 2015 – but she had won the International category for her work in Peace and Conflict resolution with young people of the world.
