Linh Nong is a Rotary Peace Fellowship recipient who has studied at the University of Queensland and Washington State University in the United States.
Linh commenced her presentation with a moving photo of a survivor of land-mine injury from her native Vietnam, to reinforce her commitment to her ‘Journey for Peace’, and the need to educate young people, in particular, about land-mine safety in effected regions.
A focus of Linh’s research has been on the notions of ‘Negative Peace’, which is the absence of violence, or the fear of violence, and ‘Positive Peace’, which promotes ‘attitudes, institutions and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies’ (Nong, 2021), and where these two intersect. Linh advocates for a commitment to Peace through proactive institutional and economic reform.
Following her studies in the US and Queensland Linh completed her Applied Field Experience in Sydney through the Institute for Economics and Peace Ambassadors Program in 2020. Linh was mentored by other Rotary Peace Fellows and was impressed by the commitment to Peace internationally through this program; including representation by 78 countries and 351 applicants.
Linh described her up-bringing in northern Vietnam, as a member of the TAY culture, of which there are 4 million in Vietnam. Linh’s work with NGO’s in Vietnam had a strong focus on Women’s Rights, particularly in response to domestic violence, political representation and economic empowerment.
The future for Linh, will apply what she has learned from the Peace Fellowship and her extensive research to her work in the Asia-Pacific, in terms of international relations, gender, empowerment, poverty reduction, social affordability and economic stabilisation, to name a few. Linh will visit Canberra and the Blue Mountains over the next few weeks to share her story with other Rotary Clubs, to whom she is most grateful for the opportunities provided to her through the Peace Fellowship.
Linh was asked how she remains so optimistic given the current international instability, to which she reinforced her commitment to positive, non-violent solutions, by (for example) strengthening the constitutions of individual nations and economic recovery.
We were priviledged to hear this remarkable young woman's story .