April 6, 2026: A global gathering of voices, stories, and music comes together for Unite for Peace: a live online event featuring Rotary Peace Fellows, humanitarian leaders, and internationally recognized musicians sharing real experiences of conflict, resilience, and reconciliation.
Hosted by Rotary Zones 28 & 32, with Producer Joe Solway and Technical Producer Robert Friend, this special online event invites participants from around the world to explore what peacebuilding looks like in practice and how each of us can play a role.
🗓️ Date: May 20
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM EDT
🌐 Format: Zoom Event
The program brings together speakers whose lived experiences span conflict zones, refugee settlements, global policy environments, and grassroots peacebuilding initiatives, creating an evening that is both deeply personal and internationally relevant.
Bottom row: Daisy Jopling; Chenai Kadungure; David LaMotte; Linda Low; Youth-2-Youth Experience participants
Cedric Bichano shares his journey from fleeing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a child to empowering others through storytelling and film in Uganda. Anne Kjær Bathel reflects on her family’s history of displacement and her work helping refugees build new lives through digital education. Linda Low explores dialogue as a tool for bridging division, while Yinka Babalola will speak about violence in his home country as part of a broader reflection on peacebuilding and leadership.
The event also highlights youth leadership through the Youth-2-Youth Experience, where Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants come together in a shared commitment to reconciliation, environmental stewardship, and mutual understanding.
Music plays a central role in the evening, with performances by internationally recognized artists who use their craft as a vehicle for connection and healing. Cellist Diego Carneiro, violinist Daisy Jopling, and singer-songwriter David LaMotte each bring a distinct artistic voice shaped by peacebuilding and global engagement.
Co-hosted by Rotary Peace Fellows Chenai Kadungure and Sakun Gajurel, Unite for Peace creates space for reflection, dialogue, and inspiration, bringing together global perspectives in a shared commitment to building a more peaceful world.
Prepared by Erin Ueffing, Rotary Club of West Ottawa.