Nobel Peace Laureate to speak at convention

Leymah Gbowee won the Nobel Peace Prize In 2011 along with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Yemeni peace activist Tawakkol Karman, nominated for their “non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.” Gbowee, who had lived in a refugee camp, worked as a counselor for child soldiers and led a nonviolent peace movement that played a pivotal role in ending a bloody 14-year period of Liberia’s civil war. Join keynote speaker Gbowee at the 2023 Rotary Convention in Melbourne. Read more about Gbowee and register now for the convention.

Bigger than polio

Women make up two-thirds of Pakistan’s polio workforce. It is a role born of necessity, as cultural norms prevent men from entering many people’s homes in Pakistan. Women can build mom-to-mom relationships and provide trusted advice, not only about polio, but about other health issues. For Women’s History Month, learn more about the role of women in polio eradication in Pakistan.

Saving babies in Ukraine

Earlier this year, Dr. John Philips, chair of the International Fellowship of Healthcare Professionals, traveled with a convey through France, Germany, and Poland to deliver 120 boxes of vital medical supplies to Ukraine. Several months into the war, the fellowship became concerned about the status of maternal care in the country after hearing stories of women being forced to give birth in basements, subway stations, and other locations away from hospitals. The fellowship is working to save babies by providing ultrasound probes that can detect breathing problems in newborns. Learn more about its efforts.

Service Above Self recipients to be honored in Melbourne

At their January meeting, the RI Board selected 101 members for the 2022-23 year to receive the Service Above Self Award, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a member. The recipients will be invited to a special celebratory reception at the Melbourne Convention.