Rotary Positive Peace Workshop

Presenter: Dr. Hector R. Ortiz

Event Date: May 31, 2025

Event Location: Central Penn College

On May 31, 2025, representatives of the International Service Center—Dr. Phuong, Olena Ivashchuk, Kateryna Baraban, and Ivanna Mozil – participated in the Rotary District 7390 Positive Peace Community Partnership Workshop, held under the theme:
“Peace seems so elusive these days, but there are ways to make it attainable!”

This event brought together a large number of active community members, united by a shared commitment to building Positive Peace in society.

The main objectives of the workshop were

• To introduce the concept of Positive Peace and explain why it matters.
• To explore the Eight Pillars of Positive Peace and the Rotary’s 7 Areas of Focus.
• To identify practical steps for implementing Positive Peace within organizations and communities.

The program was dynamic and highly interactive. After registration and informal networking, participants engaged in presentations, group discussions, and hands-on exercises. Key topics included:

What is Positive Peace and why is it important?

The Triangle of Violence.

The Eight Pillars of Positive Peace and their impact on communities.

Practical actions that can be implemented immediately.

Participants worked in teams organized by regions (North, South, East, and West), created their own peacebuilding initiatives, exchanged ideas, and learned from one another.

ISC representatives actively participated in discussions and exercises. New connections were established with members of other organizations and community initiatives.

Opportunities for future collaboration on peace and community development efforts were explored.

We sincerely thank Rotary District 7390 for organizing such a meaningful and inspiring event. The knowledge and ideas gained will certainly contribute to ISC’s continued mission of supporting peacebuilding and community engagement.