The Otto and Fran Walter Rotary Peace Center at BAU

26/06/2026

What does look like in practice?

As part of , we are excited to highlight another Social Change Initiative (SCI) from our Cohort 2 Fellows.

Esam Eldin Adam is already making a meaningful contribution to peacebuilding by strengthening dialogue and social cohesion in Darfur, Sudan.

His initiative focuses on building the capacity of local communities to prevent and transform conflicts through community-based dialogue. As part of the first phase of the project, 10 community members were trained as dialogue facilitators and are now equipped to organize dialogue sessions between farmers and herders.

What makes this initiative particularly impactful is its community-led approach. By empowering trusted local facilitators with dialogue and mediation skills, the project creates opportunities for constructive communication, mutual understanding, and locally owned solutions to recurring conflicts.

This is peacebuilding in action: investing in local leadership, fostering trust, and creating sustainable pathways for peace from within communities.

We look forward to hearing more about the project’s progress at the upcoming Capstone Conference in October. Keep up the inspiring work!

24/06/2026

What does look like in practice?

Cohort 2 Peace Fellow Jainab Alfad is already making a meaningful contribution to peacebuilding through education.

Her initiative focuses on providing mobile and alternative education opportunities for out-of-school youth and high school dropouts, particularly children of former violent extremists (FVEs) and members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the Province of Sulu, Philippines.

What makes this initiative particularly impactful is its community-centered approach. By combining digital education tools with alternative learning systems, the project seeks to address educational inequalities that often contribute to vulnerability and exclusion.

Through conflict analysis and stakeholder mapping, the initiative aims to better understand the relationship between inequality, marginalization, and violent extremism, ensuring that interventions are responsive to local realities and community needs.

This is peacebuilding in action: creating opportunities, strengthening resilience, and empowering young people through education.

We look forward to hearing more about the project's progress at the upcoming Capstone Conference in October. Keep up the inspiring work!

10/06/2026

For anyone attending the 2026 Rotary International Convention in Taipei, don’t miss breakout sessions hosted by Rotary Peace Fellows!

*️⃣ Global Changemakers Advancing Peacebuilding and Nonviolence on Monday, 15 June, 09:00-10:00, TaiNEX 2, 701 D
️*️⃣ Creative Pathways To Peace on Wednesday, 17 June, 09:00-10:00, TaiNEX 2, 701 E
*️⃣️ Building Bridges Through Courageous Conversations on Wednesday, 17 June, 09:00-10:30, TaiNEX 1, 504b
️*️⃣ Building Bridges Across Club Divisiveness on Wednesday, 17 June, 11:00-12:00, TaiNEX 2, 413 R

Find a list of breakout sessions ➡️ https://on.rotary.org/3MM4etV

10/06/2026

This year, The Rotary Foundation will award up to 170 fully funded fellowships through our Rotary Peace Centers at leading universities worldwide. These fellowships are designed to empower and equip the next generation of peacebuilders and connect them for collective action.🤝🏽

Through a blend of academic learning, practice, and global networking, participants gain the skills and knowledge needed to promote peace, prevent and transform conflict, and advance sustainable development in their communities and beyond.

Find the Rotary Peace Centers map and other resources on the peace fellowships webpage: https://on.rotary.org/4lszHAz

27/04/2026

Moments from the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026, held on April 17–19.

The Executive Director of the Center, Assoc. Prof. Yüksel Alper Ecevit, took part in this distinguished platform, Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026, which convenes global leaders, scholars, and delegates from international organizations.

The program also provided opportunities for engagement alongside BAU Rector, Prof. Esra Hatipoğlu, the Ambassador of Türkiye to Hungary Budapest, Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu, and BAU students, fostering meaningful exchange on shared global challenges.

The forum provided a valuable opportunity to engage in high-level discussions on international cooperation, diplomacy, and peacebuilding, while contributing to ongoing efforts toward a more stable and inclusive global order.

24/04/2026

23/04/2026

Advance your career in peacebuilding with the Rotary Peace Fellowship at Bahçeşehir University.

At the Otto and Fran Walter Rotary Peace Center at BAU, we equip professionals working in or focused on the Middle East and North Africa with the knowledge and skills needed to address complex regional challenges. Our program brings together a diverse cohort of peacebuilders, guided by experienced faculty and trainers with strong regional expertise.

Through a 10-week intensive program, fellows develop practical tools for peace and development, engage in collaborative learning with an international cohort, and build lasting professional connections that support their efforts to drive sustainable and inclusive change.

🗓 Applications are open until 15 May for the 2027 cohort.

🌐 Learn more and apply: https://www.rotary.org/peace-fellowships-certificate-program

23/04/2026

23 April National Sovereignty and Children’s Day reflects a simple but powerful idea: the future of a country belongs to its children.

When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk dedicated this day to children, he emphasized that national sovereignty is not only about the present, but also about the generations who will carry it forward. Inviting children into Parliament, even symbolically, was a way of recognizing them as future decision-makers.

Today, this vision calls for more than symbolism. It invites us to create spaces where children can think, speak, and participate. The connection between children and sovereignty reminds us that lasting peace is built by empowering the next generation with voice, agency, and opportunity.

Happy April 23rd!