1. 需求及機會

2.  The Need and the Opportunity

於國內及國際和平所作的努力，仍舊受到全球性戰爭、飢荒、貧窮及疾病所阻撓。自1945年以來，因國內及國際間之鬥爭，造成至少壹億的人口死亡或重傷。自1990到2002年間，據聯合國之統計有360萬兒童因內戰及種族之衝突而死亡。聯合國兒童基金會UNICEF最近報告顯示，為了防止兒童因戰爭之衝突而傷亡，我們必需更加了解暴亂及貧窮之原因，並需要更投資於調停及衝突解決。此外，戰爭衝突是目前世界飢荒之元凶。

Efforts to achieve national and international peace continue to be thwarted by war, famine, poverty, and disease around the world.  More than 100 million people have been killed or seriously injured due to national and international struggles since 1945.  Between 1990 and 2002, the United Nation’s estimates 3.6 million children have died as a result of civil wars and ethnic conflict.  UNICEF recently reported that to protect children from armed conflict more must be done to address the underlying causes of violence and poverty by investing more in mediation and conflict resolution.  In addition, armed conflicts are now the leading cause of world hunger.

扶輪基金會已經成立扶輪國際研究中心：

The Rotary Foundation has established the Rotary Centers for International Studies:

? 促進和平與親善、衝突原因及世界瞭解議題的研究、教導、出版及認識；

? to advance research, teaching, publication, and knowledge of issues of peace and goodwill, causes of conflict, and world understanding;

? 提供先進的教育機會給于一群由不同國家及文化中遴選出來的扶輪世界和平獎學金學生們，以便在政府中、商場上、教育界、媒體及其他專業領域中之未來的領導人物並提供他們對世界了解方面的知識；

? to provide advanced educational opportunities for a group of Rotary World Peace Fellows chosen from various countries and cultures in order to advance knowledge and world understanding among potential future leaders of government, business, education, media, and other professions;

? 透過國際扶輪扶輪基金會及國際扶輪會員社建立一個計劃來促進人們更深的包容及更加有效的合作，以導致世界的和平及瞭解。

? to establish a program through which The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International and the member clubs of Rotary International may become increasingly effective in promoting greater tolerance and cooperation among peoples, leading to world peace and understanding.

這計劃的一項實際成果，是一群核心的受過訓的調停幹部，他們是任何和平過程中基本成員，他們可針對衝突的根本原因而研擬出有效的合作模式。

One practical outcome of the program is a cadre of trained mediators, an essential element in any peace process, who can address the root causes of conflict and develop effective models of cooperation.

如需扶輪中心計劃之目標、大學夥伴、課程及申請手續之詳細資料，請參考扶輪之網站。

For detailed information on the Rotary Center’s program objectives, university partners, curriculum, and application procedures, please refer to Rotary’s website.