Peacebuilding Club

The Rotary Club of Tehachapi attained Peacebuilding Club status this past year through local projects to combat hunger, contributing to the eradication of polio, encourage literacy, etc.

Peacebuilding is not just about the absence of violence or conflict. Peacebuilding is the process of encouraging people to talk to each other, to make an effort to understand each other, repair relationships and reform institutions. We as a society need to remove the conditions that are inhibitors to peace, such as poverty, injustice, no access to a better life and no hope for the future.

A Peace Pole is a focal point that can bring a community together to celebrate peace. It can be a tool to initiate meaningful conversations to reduce poverty, literacy and tensions between groups. With this Peace Pole, our club believes its location in Centennial Plaza will be optimal for the Tehachapi community.

This Peace Pole was ordered through May Peace Prevail on Earth International at The World Peace Sanctuary in Wassaic, New York. At a cost of $530, it has eight languages, two to each side. The languages that say "May Peace Prevail on Earth," are English, Spanish, Chinese, Hebrew, German, Hindi, Kawaiisu and Ibibio, a dialect from Nigeria. It also has a plate that says the same message as the others in Braille.

The only Peace Poles in Tehachapi that our Club is aware of are at the United Church of Christ at Green and East E Streets, and a recent one installed on the campus of Valley Oaks Charter School in Golden Hills. The latter was installed by the Interact Club at Valley Oaks, which is sponsored by our Rotary Club. It is our hope the Tehachapi High School installs their own this coming school year by its Interact Club.

The public is invited to the unveiling ceremony Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. at Centennial Plaza which is on Green St. between Tehachapi Blvd. and F St.

The Rotary Club of Tehachapi is a volunteer service organization with the motto, "Service Above Self." The club meets on Thursdays at noon. For more information about Rotary Club, you can visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RotaryClubofTehachapi/ or contact club President Judy Trujillo, (661) 699-5851.