P.E.I. psychologist heading to Thailand to study peace, conflict

A P.E.I. woman has received a 2016 Peace Fellowship from the Rotary Foundation that will take her to Thailand for a three-month study in conflict and peace.

Psychologist Susan Hartley has been involved with the group Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan for severalyears.

It's a challenge, it's an adventure, and most of all it's an opportunity. Susan Hartley

Hartleyrecently found out she is one of only 100 people from around the world to receive a fully-funded fellowship from the foundation.

Through the Rotary Peace Centers program Hartley will be taking part inacademic and practical training in peace building and conflict resolution.

She'll be studying at university in Bangkok, but also travelling to do field studies in northern Thailand, where there are currently many refugees, and Nepal, where people are still affected by last April's earthquake.

"What it meant was a real acknowledgement of the work that I have done," said Hartley.

"It's a challenge, it's an adventure, and most of all it's an opportunity to make a bigger difference in a way that I have more confidence, and have more competence with the tools that I will be learning and the experiences I will have.

"So it means a lot to me and I'm quite humbled by it and hope that I can represent Islanders, Canadians, Rotarians well."

Hartley will be heading to Bangkok in early January.