Introducing the conference, Nathalie emphasized that the strength of the ICC program lies in the enthusiasm of its global membership (“friendship across borders”) and the strength of its networks – both reinforced by efficient modern communications via Zoom. Nathalie added that she derived great personal satisfaction from working in such an active multicultural environment. Wherever we talk about ICC, Rotarians are enthusiastic and want to join us. She was particularly pleased by the increased involvement of Rotaractors, as we would hear in a panel later in the morning.
Nathalie highlighted how ICCs had been able to provide rapid and impactful responses to a series of major emergencies: massive earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco, wildfires in Spain, explosions in Beirut, and attacks on the civilian population in Ukraine.
Current ICC action includes a call for donations to supply ready-to-use food for 1000 children in Gaza for six months, in collaboration with the Rotary Action Group for Peace. ICCs are engaging collaboratively with international teams, including Jordanians, Italians, Palestinians, French, Armenians and Turks – and with the involvement of the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization. The project underscores the ICC’s commitment to peace and humanitarian aid
Nathalie drew attention to the series of upcoming ICC meetings which are now in planning. These include ICC events in Athens (ICC and Public Image Summit), the UAE, UNESCO, and at the 2026 International Convention in Taiwan. In May next year, there will be an important ICC Assembly at Lecco, in northern Italy, with elections for the ICC Executive Council and the presentation of a new ICC Peace Award. She invited PRI Francesco Arezzo to attend, if he can find time in his busy schedule.
OPENING REMARKS BY ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT FRANCESCO AREZZO
Francesco expressed his strong support for the ICC network. Although not an official program of Rotary International, ICCs are a vital element that aligns closely with Francesco’s own goals for his presidency: the eradication of polio, increasing our membership, and fostering peace.
Francesco particularly emphasized the importance of developing mutual understanding through personal interactions to alleviate fear and enable peace, a particular issue in Europe now. He shared his experience of hosting an international RYLA in Sicily, illustrating how proximity fostered empathy among participants from different cultural and social backgrounds.
Francesco concluded his remarks by thanking those present for their efforts in promoting peace and expressing his personal gratitude for the opportunity to join the meeting.
ELLINA KUSHNIR, ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICE
Ellina opened her remarks by highlighting the broad scope of her team’s work in overseeing Rotary’s seven structured programs. These include initiatives for young leaders and adults such as Interact, RYLA, Youth Exchange, Community Corps, Friendship Exchange, Action Groups, and Fellowships.
She emphasized that these programs serve three main goals: developing participants’ professional and civic leadership skills, fostering intercultural understanding as a foundation for peace, and equipping members to better serve their communities by leveraging their talents and expertise. Her team also supports Rotary’s avenues of service, helping clubs and districts to design meaningful initiatives in close partnership with local communities, ensuring that projects elevate local voices and respond to genuine priorities.
Ellina underlined that ICCs are a central pillar of Rotary’s peace-building mission, as they promote international understanding and foster trusted relationships across borders. She urged participants to take care to define goals, track progress, and ensure that ICC activities lead to concrete results: stronger relationships between clubs and districts, improved intercultural understanding, and healthier, more resilient communities. She concluded by encouraging attendees to reach out for support or share their success stories, reaffirming that Rotary’s strategic focus is on increasing impact and ensuring participant engagement through purposeful, relevant, and well-supported service.
ANDREAS STRUB PRESIDENT BELUX, ICC BELGIUM/LUXEMBURG/GERMANY,
Speaking from his perspective as a European citizen, Rotarian, and former EU official, Andreas reflected on the meaning of peace in today’s turbulent world. He observed that with wars and conflicts dominating headlines—Ukraine, the Middle East, and numerous crises in Africa, Asia, and Latin America—the very concept of peace risks becoming abstract. Too often, peace is defined in negative terms: the absence of war, suffering, hunger, or discrimination. Yet Andreas argued that at its core, peace is much simpler and universal: the desire of ordinary people, especially children, to live safely, to go to school and work without fear, to enjoy friendships without prejudice, and to be free from violence and deprivation. Ultimately, peace is built on trust between people.
Andreas stressed that this is precisely where Rotary and ICCs can make a difference. By fostering intercultural understanding, correcting prejudices, and promoting diplomacy and respect for international law, ICCs can help rebuild trust across divides. Small but meaningful initiatives—such as exchanges, joint projects, and recognition of courageous peace-builders—can gradually repair broken relationships and create the foundations for reconciliation. Peacebuilding begins with human connections and mutual recognition of shared values and aspirations.
Drawing on the European experience, Andreas recalled how centuries of war, culminating in the devastation of the Holocaust and World War II, forced Europe to confront its own failures. Through courageous leadership and a willingness to build trust, former enemies such as France and Germany forged a partnership that laid the groundwork for the European Union and decades of peace and prosperity. He highlighted the symbolic 1950 meeting of French and German Rotarians in Strasbourg, which created the first ICC and became the seed for Rotary’s global peacebuilding network.
Andreas concluded by urging ICCs worldwide to continue their mission, even in difficult times, and to involve younger generations by linking peacebuilding to themes that resonate with them, such as the environment and climate change. Citing recent ICC cooperation on reducing plastic waste, he underlined how practical projects can inspire young people and show the relevance of peace work. His closing message was clear: the European example proves that ICCs, though sometimes underestimated, can play a vital role in building lasting peace. Quoting Pope Francis, he reminded participants: “Argue as much as you want, but don’t let the day end without making peace.”
PDG ALESSANDRO PASTORINI, NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR ROTARY IN ITALY, SAN MARINO AND MALTA
Rotary is well-established in Italy, San Marino and Malta, with nearly 40,000 members across 947 clubs. The country has also demonstrated remarkable growth in contributions to the Rotary Foundation, including dramatic increases in the number of major donors and in commitments to PolioPlus. These developments underscore Italy’s strong organizational structure and international recognition within Rotary.
The ICC network in Italy, San Marino and Malta has undergone a significant expansion and revitalization since 2020, through the establishment of a national coordination committee, digital transformation, and a strong team spirit. The network now contains 57 ICCs, 28 of them new. The ICCs foster international collaboration and have held several major conferences in recent years (the Genoa Migration Conference and a Mediterranean Peace Forum). The next ICC event in Italy will be the ICC Assembly in Lecco in May 2026 under the banner of “ICC and World Peace.”
Alessandro sees the Italian Rotary and ICC model as exemplifying both tradition and innovation, balancing historical strength with forward-looking adaptation. By embracing inclusiveness, international dialogue, and a strong strategic coordination, Rotary in Italy, San Marino and Malta is a dynamic force at a time of profound social, cultural, and technological transformation, offering a valuable example for global Rotary leadership and collaboration.
ROTARY ICCs AS BRIDGES OF PEACE
MODERATOR: PDG ASHOT KARAPETYAN
PANELLISTS: PRID KATERINA KOTSALI-PAPADIMITRIOU, PDG GUNES ERTAS, PDG OVIDIO COS AND YASEEN JAFFER
The panel framed ICCs as Rotary’s “people-to-people diplomacy,” where peace is defined not only as the absence of war but as the presence of trust, dignity, and opportunity. Katerina underscored that ICCs were born to heal the traumas of world wars and are uniquely relevant today amid conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Their flexible structure enables practical, “positive peace” projects—alleviating poverty, improving education and health, and addressing environmental risks. She highlighted concrete efforts: water filters and medical equipment for Ukraine, intercultural summer camps for conflict-affected children, and the “Resonance” classical concert uniting young Ukrainian and Russian musicians—tangible examples of friendship turning into action.
Ovidio emphasized the centrality of communities in sustainable peacebuilding. ICCs, he argued, excel because they unite Rotarians, Rotaractors, families, and local actors across borders, creating safe spaces for dialogue, inclusion, and resilience. Examples included pre-war Ukrainian-Russian youth art and sailing camps and rapid refugee support after the Ukraine war—food, shelter, schooling, and job placement—illustrating how locally-led initiatives address both immediate needs and long-term social cohesion.
From the Middle East, Yaseen showcased the UAE as a living model of coexistence—home to 200+ nationalities—and invited ICCs to convene in Dubai in March 2026 for their first summit there. He described robust youth-led service, such as Rotaract’s Ramadan food distributions (tens of thousands of meals), and called for scaled fundraising and coordinated humanitarian channels (via Jordan, Cyprus, and Dubai’s Humanitarian City) to support children in Gaza—proposing ICCs as a platform to mobilize resources and ensure delivery. Güneş added two global, ICC-linked projects that amplify cross-cultural understanding and visibility: the multi-zone “Power of Goodness” video competition (now hosting ~300 project videos) and the 24-hour worldwide broadcast on Rotary’s anniversary, where countries showcase ICC projects.
In a brief Q&A, panelists distilled three takeaways: Rotary’s unique advantage is neutrality and trust—when governments hesitate, Rotary acts; friendship must translate into measurable, community-level impact; and youth engagement is indispensable for lasting peace. The call to action: treat ICCs not as paper committees but as living bridges—initiate dialogue, back cross-border projects, empower young leaders, and strengthen partnerships—each joint effort laying another brick in the bridge of peace.
ROTARY IN AFGHANISTAN – RAMEEN JAVID, A FOUNDER AND CHARTER PRESIDENT OF RC KABUL CITY
Rameen explained that Afghanistan is a country marked by conflict, poverty, and natural disasters, with a recent earthquake in August 2025 underscoring its struggles. It’s the 36th largest country globally with a population nearing 44 million, and yet still battling polio. Rotary is focusing efforts on Afghanistan, one of three regions with non-discriminatory clubs in Zone 21, alongside Belarus and Iraq. Afghanistan, designated as district 56, hosts three active Rotary clubs despite adverse conditions, engaging in health, education, and economic development projects.
Afghanistan’s Rotary clubs face ongoing challenges, particularly after the Taliban takeover in 2021, which decimated 90% of the country’s GDP. Clubs like Herak, Kabul City, and Jalalabad focus on disaster relief and community projects, including secret schools for girls, health initiatives, and income generating crafts to support local artisans.
Despite losing significant membership post-2021, Afghanistan’s Rotary clubs persist in education, health, and income initiatives. Health projects have seen medical aid from abroad distributed locally, alongside small-scale operations and training. Efforts in income generation have been directed towards supporting local crafts amidst economic setbacks. The clubs navigate challenging conditions with meetings adapted to current restrictions. Disaster response remains central, with medical teams providing aid in recent crises. Rotary clubs in Afghanistan continue to foster resilience and support amid dire circumstances.
Breaking news reveals the chartering of the first ICC in Afghanistan, supported by a special representative from Iraq.
AFRICA AND ICC: THE FUTURE OF ROTARY
MODERATOR: PIERANGELO PANOZZO
PANELLISTS: PDG-ENPC MARIE-IRENE RICHMOND, THOMAS HUYGHEBAERT, PRID PATRICK CHISANGA
The panel examined how ICCs can shape Africa’s future by translating peace from an ideal into practical action. Marie-Irène mapped today’s conflict landscape—Ethiopia, Sudan, the DRC, the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad), Somalia and spillovers into neighboring states—and stressed that durable peace depends on engaging those who influence daily life: traditional authorities, religious leaders, women’s groups, and community organizers. She illustrated Rotary’s grassroots approach with a recent Côte d’Ivoire initiative ahead of the October elections, where Rotarians convened prefectural, traditional, and faith leaders to promote non-violence. Beyond mediation, she framed Rotary’s core causes—health, WASH, education, environment, and local economic development—as peacebuilding in practice: school canteens and teacher training, equipping health centers for maternal care, micro-finance for women entrepreneurs, climate-resilience for smallholders, and advocacy against gender-based violence, forced marriage, and FGM, supported by evolving legal protections.
Thomas situated Africa–Europe cooperation in a longer arc of institution-building and economic integration. He noted the EU remains a leading partner in investment, development and humanitarian aid, and trade, while backing African-led peace and security—from AU Peace and Security Council dialogues to operations and mediation (e.g., Somalia, Gambia transitions, containing violence in northern Mozambique). Looking ahead, he emphasized moving “beyond security” to unlock shared prosperity: boosting intra-African trade, supporting value-addition of natural resources at source, financing critical infrastructure (roads, rail, ports, digital, energy), accelerating renewables (solar, green hydrogen, transmission lines), and building regional health manufacturing (vaccines and medicines in countries such as Senegal, Rwanda, South Africa) alongside technical/vocational skills and regulatory harmonization. In a rule-based world order under strain, he argued, AU-EU alignment is a strategic counterweight.
Patrick touched on Zambia’s relatively stable context and the centrality of education and health systems, reinforcing Rotary’s potential as a model for gender inclusion and community-level change. The discussion returned repeatedly to the catalytic role of women—as early-warning networks, market leaders, and micro-enterprise drivers—and to youth as essential partners in shaping peaceful, resilient communities.
A clear consensus emerged: ICCs are Rotary’s bridge between high-level aspirations and on-the-ground results. Peace is advanced when Rotarians convene trusted local voices, pair social services with livelihoods and education, and connect African initiatives to continental partnerships and global resources. The call to action is twofold: scale community-anchored ICC projects in health, education, climate and economic inclusion, and link them to AU-EU platforms that can amplify impact. In this way, every clinic equipped, classroom fed, entrepreneur funded, and dialogue brokered becomes a tangible step toward lasting peace.
PROMO INDIA PEACE PATH – RAHUL WADHWA
Rahul presented the India–USA ICC “Peace Path,” a Gandhian peace initiative designed to turn friendship into action. Inspired at the Houston Convention and developed with ICC partners (with support from Indian ICC coordinator PDG Deepak Talwar), the project retraced Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy to make peace experiential rather than theoretical. This echoed Gandhi’s belief that nonviolence must be lived to be understood.
In March 2025, Rotarians from Districts 3055 and 3060 led a multi-day walk connecting 23 Gandhi ashrams along the historic Salt March corridor. Thousands of Rotarians and local citizens joined rallies, cycle processions, and a webinar linking peace advocates in India and the United States. Along the route, clubs hosted the walkers, installed Peace Poles—including at a major temple that draws ~50,000 visitors daily—and used QR codes to channel ongoing “peace pledges.” The journey also catalyzed Rotary work across all seven Areas of Focus, generated three Global Grant concepts, and showcased Rotary’s image as a force for nonviolent change.
Looking ahead, the team plans to expand impact by planting “Peace Groves” at every visited ashram and repeating the Peace Path in November or early March 2026, inviting global Rotarians to participate and co-create projects. Rahul closed with the Indian greeting “Om Shanti”—a reminder that peace is a personal commitment as well as a shared civic project—and urged ICC partners to join the next edition to strengthen cross-border collaboration and scale practical, Gandhian peacebuilding.
ROTARY / ROTARACT TOGETHER FOR PEACE
MODERATOR: MARIA VITTORIA GARGIULO
PANELISTS: MARCELLO ANDRIA, ALLAN MUKASA NTAMBI, EZGI BATU, EMIL MOAWAD, LAURA SASSE
The session “Rotary/Rotaract Together for Peace,” showcased a young but experienced panel who argued that leadership is defined by vision and collaboration, not age. A core theme was integration: moving beyond the slogan “Elevate Rotaract” to genuinely embed Rotaractors in Rotary decision-making so intergenerational teams co-create peace initiatives rather than working in parallel.
International exposure was presented as a catalyst for local impact. Laura outlined the 2024 Rotaract Days at the United Nations in Geneva—bringing ~250 Rotaractors together with multiple UN agencies and senior speakers—to raise awareness of Rotary–UN ties and seed practical follow-ups. Task forces are now forming with agencies around climate change, health, refugees, conflict prevention, and economic development, designed to translate global expertise into community projects Rotaractors can deliver at home.
Cross-cultural collaboration emerged as both opportunity and method. Emil described his nine-country district as a “blessing,” where linguistic, religious, and cultural diversity expands problem-solving capacity and energizes clubs. From Africa, Allan stressed deliberate inclusivity—especially in refugee-hosting contexts—arguing that community needs are everyone’s needs; peace and prosperity are interdependent. On the enabling side, Ezgi emphasized that communication is the bridge from tokenism to participation: consistent, inclusive strategies (mentoring, co-design, shared platforms) make young leaders visible, heard, and empowered.
The panel closed with concrete integration steps that any district can action: include Rotaractors on club and district boards (even as non-voting members), run joint Rotary–Rotaract projects, promote dual membership to smooth transitions, and cultivate senior leaders who give youth “time, space, and hope.” Examples shared included clubs that grew dramatically in engagement after embracing youth leadership. The takeaway: peace work accelerates when Rotary and Rotaract operate as one team—matching Rotary’s experience with Rotaract’s energy—to turn international networks and values into measurable community impact.
PROMOTION OF UPCOMING ICC EVENTS
There was a brief presentation of each of two upcoming ICC events, first the ICC and Public Image Forum (Athens, Greece 13-16 November 2025), by PDG Delivoria and ARPIC Maria Mastora), and then UNESCO Day (Paris 13-14/3/2026), by Guy Cahane
CHARTER CEREMONIES
New ICC Charters were signed between Belux – Spain, Belux – Romania and Moldova, and Belux – Afghanistan, and France – Mali.
