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Terry Waite addresses global scholars

Terry Waite addresses global scholars

Thirty Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholars, largely from Japan and America, met at the Welsh National Assembly in Cardiff to attend a peace conference as part of Rotary’s global scholar orientation programme. The event, which brings scholars studying at universities in Great Britain and Ireland together for the first time, was hosted by South Wales Rotary […]

Thirty Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholars, largely from Japan and America, met at the Welsh National Assembly in Cardiff to attend a peace conference as part of Rotary’s global scholar orientation programme. The event, which brings scholars studying at universities in Great Britain and Ireland together for the first time, was hosted by South Wales Rotary clubs. The main speakers were former hostage and peace campaigner, Terry Waite and Rotary Peace Fellow, Melhem Mansour from Syria.

Rotary global scholars are funded by Rotary worldwide to study abroad in order to build good relations and foster peace and goodwill between the sponsoring and host countries. At present there are more scholars studying peace and conflict resolution than any of Rotary’s other five areas of focus.

Terry Waite spoke of the abhorrence of the live execution of hostages and how difficult it is to comprehend how anyone can perform such acts. He went on to compare it with the dropping of bombs, pointing out that the public hear about this but do not see the victims being killed. Terry also spoke of his time in captivity and how he got through it by keeping his integrity when everything else had been taken away.

Rotary Peace Fellow, Melhem Mansour pointed out that unfortunately areas of the world where the most conflict occurs have the fewest peace fellows, due to the small number of Rotary clubs in regions such as the Middle East.

The scholars were hosted by local Rotarians for the duration of the weekend and taken on a tour of the Welsh Assembly building and other tourist attractions in the city.

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