Why does our club mentor Rotary Peace Fellowship applicants every year?Because a successful peace fellow will change the world for the better!
Vehae Tjiringe, a District 7090 Peace Fellow studying at International Christian University in Japan is an inspiring example of this. She earned straight “A’s” in her course work.
Vehae’s research aim is to explore “why women who develop strong leadership capabilities through education, civil society, and community leadership so rarely convert those capabilities into formal political representation.”
Here is her full report sent last month from Botswana:
“I am delighted to share that my first year of the Rotary Peace Fellowship at International Christian University in Tokyo went extremely well and, in many ways, exceeded my expectations. This year has been an incredibly enriching experience, filled with meaningful connections, friendships, academic excellence-learning, and relationships that I know will extend far beyond the fellowship itself. Through my studies, engagements with Rotary Clubs across Japan, and speaking engagements at my host district conference, I have experienced firsthand the extraordinary power of the Rotary network. I am very grateful to be part of this fellowship and for the doors it has opened for me, both personally and professionally.Most recently, I completed my Applied Field Experience, the fieldwork component of the fellowship. I had originally planned to conduct research across Namibia and South Africa, but due to safety concerns related to xenophobia, I decided to focus my in-person fieldwork in Namibia, while conducting online interviews with participants in South Africa. That decision turned out to be a gift. Namibia exceeded every expectation.
My research examines why women who develop strong leadership capabilities through education, civil society, and community leadership so rarely convert those capabilities into formal political representation. In Namibia, I had the privilege of interviewing women leaders across different sectors and levels of leadership, from the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly to Hon. Fenny Tutjavi, who, at 22, is the youngest Member of Parliament in Namibia’s history. These conversations added depth and richness to my research that I could never have gained from a classroom alone.
I have attached a photograph with Hon. Tutjavi, my academic record, and a few other moments from my fellowship journey in Japan and Namibia, which I hope gives you a small glimpse into this remarkable experience.
I owe so much of this journey to you. Your belief in me during the application process, your continued support, and your faith that I could do this carried me through moments when the distance from home felt long and the work felt heavy. I do not take that support lightly, and I hope this update reflects how seriously I have embraced the opportunity you helped make possible.
I am currently in Botswana for a quick stop before returning to Japan next week to begin my second and final year of the fellowship. I look forward to sharing more with you as the year unfolds and I promise the next update will not take this long.
Those on LinkedIn, let’s connect. I’ve shared a lot about my fellowship journey.
With sincere gratitude and warm regards,
Vehae”