This document provides guidance on strengthening applications for Rotary Peace Fellowships. It reviews qualification requirements, program offerings, the application process, and tips for preparing application materials like resumes and essays. Key points include having 3+ years of relevant work experience, choosing the right fellowship program based on qualifications and career goals, tailoring application materials to highlight skills related to peacebuilding, and ensuring recommendations are from appropriate references like professors or supervisors. The document emphasizes being honest, specific, and addressing all application questions and requirements.

1. How to Strengthen Your
Rotary Peace Fellowship Application
Lauren Pugliese, Program Coordinator
Emily Ruf, Program Supervisor

2. Objectives
• Review the qualification requirements
• Choose the right fellowship program
• Understand the application process
• Prepare your application
• Submit a quality resume, essays, and recommendations.
• Reminders and resources

3. • Introductions
• Qualification Requirements
• Program Offerings
• Application Process
• Preparing an Application
• Reminders and Resources
Agenda

4. Qualification
The ideal candidate has . . .
 3 years experience (Masters)
 5 years experience (Certificate)
 English proficiency
 Strong essays
 Strong recommendation

5. What qualifies as full-time relevant work experience?
• Related to peacebuilding and/or conflict resolution
Environment
Education
Gender equality
Journalism
Public health
• Paid or unpaid
• More than 30 hours per week

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Successful Candidate Profiles

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Duke: International Development Policy
UNC: Education, Public Health, Political Science, City and Regional Planning,
Folklore, Geography, Global Studies, Journalism, Social Work
*All fellows at Duke/UNC receive the UNC Graduate Certificate in International
Peace and Conflict Resolution
Conflict Resolution, International Politics and Security, Economic and Finance for
Development, International Development Management, Project Planning and
Management, Peace Studies, African Peace and Conflict Studies
Peace and Conflict Studies
Politics and International Studies, Public Economics, Peace Studies
Peace and Conflict Studies
Rotary Peace Centers Academic Offerings

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Recruit
(Feb-May)
District Review
(Feb – June)
TRF Review
(July – Sep)
Notification
(Nov)

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Recruit & Apply
February – May:
• Staff, alumni, clubs & districts recruit candidates
• Optional: Rotary club recommendation
May – June:
• 31 May applications due to the Rotary district
• Rotary districts interview and endorse candidates
District Review

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The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Review
Notification
July – September:
• 1 July endorsed applications due to TRF
• Staff process and screen applications
• Committee and University partners review applications
November:
• Finalists and Alternates selected during the RPC Committee Meeting. They
will be notified of the decision by early November

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Tips – Resume/CV

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Clearly Explain Work Experience
1. Position
2. Employer
3. List of responsibilities
4. Dates of employment

13. Quantify Your Experience
Be clear and concise:
– Example: Worked at XYZ Conflict Resolution Organization,
managed budget and conducted training.
– Reframe to: Worked at the XYZ Conflict Resolution
Organization, organized and managed a $400,000 project.
Successfully wrote grant proposals totaling over $50,000 from
X source. Conducted over 20 trainings in basic conflict
resolution techniques with high school students and teachers,
reaching over 500 people.

14. Resume Tips
Tailor: Ensure that you tailor your resume and
essays to address the skills, leadership
experiences, and knowledge you have that relate to
the mission of Rotary and the Rotary Peace
Centers.
– Highlight a few key experiences that show your skills and
motivation to apply for the fellowship
– Tell a compelling story of why your experience qualifies you to
be selected as a fellow

15. Rotary Resume Example
Education
Professional Experience
Qualifications Summary
Volunteer Experience
Professional Memberships or
Organizations
Remember to include the
number of hours you
work(ed) per week.
Honors and Awards

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Tips – Essay

17. The Ideal Essay
The
ideal
essay
Honest
Clearly
answers
question
Grammatically
correct
Organized
Grammatically correctOrganizedClearly answers questionHonest

18. Important aspects to remember:
Will your essay make the reader feel something?
Are you directly stating why you are the best
candidate for the program your are applying to?
Did you put effort into writing the essay?

19. Strengthening your Essays
Personal
Statement
Specific
Not
Vague
Intriguing
Opening
Sentence
Finalize
with a
clincher
statement
Focus on
your
strengths.

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Tips – Recommendations

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Recommendations
Academic Recommendation:
 Professor
 Instructor
 Teaching Assistant (TA)
 Trainer
x Classmate
x Family member
x Coworker
Professional Recommendation:
 Supervisor
 Manager
 Director
 Client
 Professional Mentor
x Peer/Colleague
x Family member
x Friend

22. Remembering the DOs & DON’Ts
DO
• Verify that you are eligible for the program.
• Read the application guidelines carefully & thoroughly.
• Research & choose the right program based on your eligibility and career goals.
• Contact your local Rotary club or district and references as soon as possible.
• Request your transcripts and get them translated by a professional certified translator as
soon as possible.
• Register for any exams you need to take and study for them.
• Remember to include whether the positions held in your resume are part-time or full
time to show your relevant work experience.
• Be honest, sincere, & specific throughout.
• Keep a copy of all the forms & documents you submit.
• Double check your application, grammar & spelling errors, and that you have included all
appropriate documentation.

23. Remembering the DOs & DON’Ts
DON’T
• Don’t leave blank spaces in the any section of the application or write “ to be sent later.”
The absolute last day to make changes to your application will be 1 July.
• Don’t wait to search for a Rotary club or district just before the 31 May deadline. Contact
them early and if you are having trouble reaching a club or district contact the Rotary
Peace Centers directly at rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org
• Don’t ask your references if they will provide you a recommendation at the last minute.
• Each essay requires you to be specific, don’t be vague.
• Don’t submit additional documentation that is not required.
• Don’t procrastinate. Rushing and procrastinating will reflect in your application.

24. Application Checklist
Watch
the
Application
Checklist
VIDEO
 Application (online)
 Required recommendations; optional club recommendation
 Master’s degree program: one academic and one professional
 Professional development certificate program: two professional; one from a current employer
 Optional: club recommendation
 Résumé or curriculum vitae
 Undergraduate transcripts, required for master’s degree program only
 TOEFL or IELTS scores, required for all non-native English speakers for master’s
degree program only
 GRE scores (required for consideration to UNC; highly recommended for the Rotary
Peace Center at Duke-UNC)
 District endorsement

25. Reminder:
Application
Available Online
Early in the new
year
Application due
to District
31 May
Endorsed applications
due to The Rotary
Foundation
1 July
Application
Selection
Results
November

26. Resources
Visit www.rotary.org/en/peace-fellowships to access resources
• Review the Application Guidelines
• Watch the Application Checklist Video
• Watch a Peace Fellow’s Journey Video
• Social Media:
• Review the Application FAQs
• Read about Tips to improve your application
• Review other important information on the
Application Webpage

27. Thank you
Questions?
For additional information, please contact
rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org