Empowering Young Leaders: Highlights from the Peace Conference in Pompeii, Italy, March 7-9, 2025

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From March 7 to 9, 2025, the historic city of Pompeii, Italy, hosted a transformative Peace Conference that brought together Rotaractors from around the world. Organized by Rotaract Europe, Rotaract Mediterranean, Rotaract Pompeii, and Rotary District 2101, the event aimed to empower young leaders with the knowledge and tools to foster positive peace in their communities. During the conference, Rotary Peace Fellow Elise Nassif took over the Rotary International Instagram to shed light on the highlights of the event, showcasing how key speakers and participants shared their insights.

Workshops Led by Global Peace Leaders

The conference featured engaging workshops focused on understanding and implementing positive peace:

  • Panel Discussion on Positive Peace: Moderated by the President of Rotaract Europe Katharina, this panel explored the concept of positive peace and featured expert panelists including Patricia Shafer, Executive Director of NewGen Peacebuilders; Elise Nassif, Rotary Peace Fellow and Rotaract Europe VP Assistant; and Laura Sasse, Rotaract UN Days and Harmony Project Coordinator.
  • NewGen Peacebuilders Workshop: Accelerating Peace: What Are Rotaractors to Do?
    Led by Patricia Shafer, this workshop focused on the five spheres of peace and analyzed the trends of violence, contrasting positive and negative peace. Patricia provided Rotaractors with practical tools to accelerate peace through the eight pillars of peace. Participants reflected on their personal experiences, analyzing how they had applied these eight pillars in their individual projects, allowing them to deepen their understanding of peacebuilding and identify opportunities for impactful action. Through these reflections, Rotaractors learned to design peacebuilding projects that could address the root causes of conflict and contribute to sustainable peace.
  • San Child Foundation Workshop with Walter B. Gyger: Walter B. Gyger, former Swiss Ambassador and member of the San Child Foundation, assisted by Laura Sasse, guided participants through group discussions on the role of civil society in promoting peace, stability, and resilience. Walter and Laura invited Rotaractors to take part in the Harmony Project, encouraging them to implement similar initiatives in their own communities. The session focused on overcoming challenges in organizing peace projects and emphasized the importance of building inclusive, peaceful communities through collaborative efforts.

Understanding and Implementing Positive Peace

The central theme of the conference was positive peace, which goes beyond the mere absence of violence to address the root causes of conflict. Participants gained a deep understanding of the pillars of positive peace—good governance, equitable resource distribution, and the free flow of information—and explored how to incorporate these elements into their projects.

A Global Gathering of Changemakers

Rotaractors from diverse backgrounds came together to share experiences and ideas, enriching discussions with global perspectives. The exchange of knowledge highlighted the importance of collaboration and the power of global unity in driving positive change.

A Platform for Action and Impact

Empowered by the workshops, participants left Pompeii ready to implement projects that promote positive peace in their own communities. The conference provided them with the tools to translate insights into meaningful actions, ensuring the values of peace, inclusion, and resilience are embedded in future initiatives.

A Testament to Collaboration and Commitment

This conference exemplified the power of collaboration and the dedication of young leaders to advance peace and development. It marked the beginning of a collective journey toward lasting change, as Rotaractors return home with renewed purpose to drive peace and positive transformation in their communities.

The Peace Conference in Pompeii was not just a gathering of Rotaract leaders and Changemakers; it was a powerful reminder that peace begins with understanding, and action follows reflection- RPF Elise Nassif