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Peace Fellow
Continued Work in Beirut Sparks New Insights

by Kate Keator


My internship with Search for Common Ground has been really interesting. I've been introduced to a range of local NGOs working on peacebuilding, social cohesion, and dialogue in innovative ways thanks to Search's insistence on having local partners on the projects they carry out. It has sparked a lot of ideas and insights pertaining to the conflict resolution and mediation work I would like to continue to focus on after university.

This past week I gave presentations at a Rotaract Club and Rotary Club in Beirut, telling them about the Rotary Peace Fellowship and my role as a Global Peace Index (GPI) Ambassador for the Institute of Economics and Peace. I got a ton of insightful follow up questions from the Rotaractors about the GPI as well as several expressing interest in applying to the Rotary Peace Fellowship. The Rotary Club of Beirut Cosmopolitan was also very welcoming. I had presented to them last summer when I was in Beirut so I updated them on my experiences over the course of the past year.

Though I have been working away on my thesis in my free time after work and on weekends, I did take two trips during July. First I went to Larnaca, Cyprus for a few days, only a 40 minute plane ride away from Beirut. It is beautiful beach town with a Mediterranean vibe and a little bit of history (though mainly known more for its beach and tiny old city). The following weekend I drove with a friend from Beirut to the coastal city of Saida, known for its history and labyrinth-esque old market. Both were insightful, tasty trips and a welcome brain break!

Posted by Jackie Cuthbert
August 7, 2018

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