1. RACHEL HALL BEECROFT 

Sponsor Club: Minneapolis University Rotary Club, Minnesota, USA, District 5950 

Host Club: Rotary Club of Cleveland, Cleveland, AUS, District 9630 

Rachel is from Lansing, Michigan. She holds a Bachelor of Individualized Studies in Political Science, Management, and Human Rights & Genocide Studies from the University of Minnesota. Rachel completed high school and university combined in a total of six years, and quickly developed a passion for travel. During a year abroad, Rachel volunteered at a small medical clinic in Haiti, interned in central India focusing on rural water management, and worked in Laos. Rachel has travelled and worked in 37 countries, and hopes to experience many more cultures in the coming years. 

Upon returning to the United States, Rachel accepted a position with World Without Genocide, an anti-genocide organization that achieves its goals through education and political advocacy at local, state, and national levels. At World, Rachel created and implemented a three day, intensive Summer Institute for high school students, where students learn about genocide and the tools to stand up for human rights, both locally and globally. She is passionate about educating and training today’s youth to create world change tomorrow. 

Rachel travelled and worked in Southeast Asia and Australia before moving to Brisbane to begin her studies. As part of her Applied Field Experience, Rachel worked in Myanmar with Nonviolent Peaceforce, training civilians to act as unarmed civilian protection monitors and civilian ceasefire monitors. 

As a private pilot, Rachel enjoys flying and you can find her developing handicrafts in her free time. 

Rachel is grateful for this incredible opportunity, and is thrilled to be based in Australia, where she is able to stay connected to her interests of peacebuilding within the context of Southeast Asia.