World Understanding and Peace Day

World Understanding and Peace Day is celebrated every year on February 23, which has been the anniversary of the founding of the International Rotary since 1905.

Rotary International, formerly (1905–12) Chicago Rotary Club and (1912–22) International Association of Rotary Clubs, known as Rotary, civil service club founded as Club Chicago Rotary Club in 1905 by American attorney Paul P. Harris. For founding the organization, Harris is credited with initiating the idea of ​​a civil service club, an organization of men or women from different business and professional backgrounds, dedicated to for member fellowship and volunteer community service. The name Rotary was originally suggested by Harris because the meetings would be held alternately in the members' offices.

Rotary grew rapidly, establishing local clubs throughout the United States and internationally. With the formation of clubs in Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom, the organization changed its name to the International Association of Rotary Clubs (1912). In 1922, having founded clubs on six continents, it took its current name Rotary International. At the turn of the 21st century, there were more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and regions, accounting for more than 1.2 million members.

Rotary includes individual Rotary clubs; Rotary International, an organization that coordinates Rotary's global programs and initiatives; and the Rotary Foundation, established in 1928 to raise and distribute funds to support national and international service projects that Rotary around the world designed and executed. By the turn of the 21st century, the Rotary Foundation had issued more than $4 billion in charitable grants. Rotary develops service projects in six broad areas: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children through accessible healthcare, and other services, support for basic education and literacy, and local economic growth.

The organization is headed by a president, who is elected to a one-year term by the board of directors. The directors are in turn elected for two-year terms by representatives of clubs around the world at Rotary's annual international conference. The President is elected to nominate members of the board of directors, who are elected to a four-year term by the board. A trustee chairman is elected to a one-year term by the board of directors and is the head of the Rotary Foundation.

Observing World Understanding and Peace Day

To celebrate World Understanding and Peace Day, please find out more information related to the volunteer activities of the rotary program. Share your info with the hashtag #WorldUnderstandingAndPeaceDay.