Ex-Thai minister pushes for Rotary scholarship

Bernadette A. Parco
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/community/view_article.php?article_id=85577

In the article, the former deputy prime minister of Thailand and Rotary Foundation trustee, Bhichai Rattakul wants someone from the Philippines to apply for the Rotary scholarship. The program, which was started in 1947, helps students learn “conflict resolution and mediation strategies.” The program offers ambassadorial scholarships and free two-year and three-month-long peace study courses. So far the program has helped “nearly 37,000 men and women from 100 nations.” Rattakul stated in a press conference that “The ambassadorial scholarship program sends at least 1,000 students to other countries to study and serve as goodwill ambassadors.” The two year peace study program offers scholarships to six universities around the world and a three month course is in Thailand. The article mentioned that there have been no scholars from the Philippines. There have been applicants, but none that could pass the screening.
I did not know that there was such a scholarship. I believe that this is a very beneficial type of study that many people could take advantage of. I like the fact that the scholarship teaches how to become better people in the world. I like that it is not just for one country, but that many nations are involved with this. This kind of education is trying to bring about a global sense of community. With the way the world is going now, we need more people from different nations to take a role in conflict resolution.