Shaping peace through motherhood and families, one household at a time

Maximilla Wandera is a Rotary Peace Fellow.

Peace can be built in quiet, practical ways beyond negotiating ceasefires or signing treaties. This way, we recognize that every life we touch through this work strengthens the social fabric of our communities.

Peace is not something abstract — it is built day by day, through compassion, respect, and service. When we invest in the health and dignity of mothers and children, we are delivering peace.

As the 25th anniversary of the UN's foundational declaration on a culture of peace approaches on 21st September for the International Day of Peace, Rotary International plays a vital role in developing positive peace by empowering young people with leadership skills and opportunities for community service.

Through voluntary service and community partnerships, Rotary members promote peace by ensuring that resources are available, secure, and stable, thereby providing accessible health services to mothers, children, and communities in need.

Through the Rotary International Peace Fellowship, young leaders receive training in financial management, business development, and social engagement, including the implementation of community projects that foster personal growth and create pathways for thriving communities.

Promoting maternal and child health in our communities is a powerful demonstration of fostering peace through the dedication of volunteers to contribute to the critical pillars of positive peace, addressing health disparities,thereby building more equitable, resilient societies, and creating conditions where peace can thrive.

Through a care-centered approach, Rotary International has extended its reach through community-driven initiatives by Rotary members to build something deeper and longer-lasting, such as positive Peace. In April 2025, the Rotary Club of Syokimau responded to a call to improve the Maternal Child Health Block of Mlolongo Community Hospital in Kenya, a public facility serving about 1,000 patients daily.

The donated benches for expectant mothers and young children, the privacy screens in the delivery and postnatal areas, and the fresh coat of paint in the maternal and child health unit are small but meaningful steps toward enhancing dignity and improving health services. Though these seem like tiny acts of kindness, this is more than just the aesthetics. This was a concerted effort to promote dignity during a critical life moment, childbirth.

This is the first step in the long journey, as modelled by the Rotary Club of Lavington Jioni, which has spent the last four years walking alongside Cana Hospital, a maternity and family planning facility.

Through this sustained partnership, the hospital has received essential maternal health equipment and supplies, promoting wellness and cohesion in the community. Patients at the Cana Hospital can now receive critical scans that detect complications early, helping to prevent health challenges that may arise later and thereby setting mothers and children on the path to better healthcare.

Often, public health facilities in low-income areas are overlooked, left to operate without the necessities that more privileged areas take for granted.  Rotary’s commitment to step in and invest in these spaces reflects a conscious effort to correct this imbalance, inspiring us all to act and make a difference in our communities.

The opportunities to partner with stakeholders at the community level to improve health facilities for better health outcomes demonstrate an acceptance of the rights of others, particularly the rights of women to receive care that is respectful and private.

 By providing privacy screens and comfortable seating, Rotary is committed to enhancing healthcare — it recognizes women’s inherent dignity and their right to be treated with respect during one of life’s most vulnerable moments.

This is a bold statement on the interconnectedness of our humanitarian work and recognition that we are building a society where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. These efforts build and strengthen well-functioning health systems — a critical pillar of any peaceful society.

In both Mlolongo and Cana Hospital, Rotary’s contributions have not only met short-term needs but have also enhanced the infrastructure and capacity of the healthcare system. This kind of consistent support helps reduce maternal and child mortality and fosters trust between communities and the institutions that serve them.

As a Rotary Peace Fellow, I have worked with Rotary clubs to raise awareness of positive peace and integrate it into community projects. This experience has shown me how linking positive peace principles with service initiatives deepens impact, creating sustainable solutions that foster dignity, resilience, and lasting harmony.

And it is your support, your commitment, and your advocacy that make these initiatives possible.  Your involvement is crucial in achieving our peacebuilding goals.

Maximilla Wandera is a Rotary Peace Fellow.