🔑 Key Highlights
- 🌍 Philippines : a national peace convention gathered hundreds to expand peace education and honor the Bangsamoro Peace Agreement.
- ✨ Zambia : interfaith leaders and communities joined the Peace Expo to highlight dignity, faith, and the integration of peace education in schools.
- 💡Sri Lanka : volunteers cleaned the streets after the Kandy festival, promoting civic responsibility and long-term peace partnerships.
Philippines’ 3rd National Peace Convention: Building Unity for Lasting Change 🌍✨
The 3rd National Peace Convention in Quezon City brought together more than 800 peace advocates from across the Philippines and international delegations from Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Nepal. Hosted by HWPL and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the event carried the theme “Solidarity for Peace, Realizing Humanity’s Duty Together.”
Participants included government leaders, educators, religious representatives, media, youth, women’s groups, and civil society—joining forces to explore practical paths toward sustainable peace.
A key highlight was the discussion on registering the Bangsamoro Peace Agreement in UNESCO’s Memory of the World, recognizing it as both a national symbol of reconciliation and a global cultural heritage.
Beyond that, participants shared initiatives such as peace clubs in schools, peace monuments, and capacity-building programs to expand peace education nationwide. Support for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) and the Religious Peace Academy (RPA) also gained momentum.
Panel discussions featured leaders from peace institutes, the NCCA, and HWPL’s Philippine branch, who emphasized the importance of collaboration. Speakers noted that real change requires unity and commitment across generations.
As one participant said, “What our future generations need is a world without war, and it is our duty to make it happen—together as one.”
Zambia Interfaith Peace Expo: Spreading the Values of Dignity and Peace 🌍✨
At the Ramakrishna Vedanta Center in Zambia, HWPL and partner organizations hosted the Interfaith Peace Expo under the theme “Born to Be Loved: Dignity, Faith, and Practice.” The event gathered religious leaders, community representatives, educators, and youth to discuss the importance of peace, justice, and human dignity.
A highlight was the call from Zambia’s Ministry of Education to integrate HWPL’s Peace Education into the national curriculum through a pilot program. This initiative aims to help students recognize their value, develop empathy, and grow into contributors to community development.
The expo featured live lectures from the Religious Peace Academy, interfaith exhibition booths, and the unveiling of Zambia’s fourth DPCW peace monument. Speakers stressed the urgent need for interfaith cooperation to address challenges like child neglect and social inequality.
Participants reaffirmed that protecting children’s rights and promoting dignity require collective action. Under the shared message “We are born to be loved,” the gathering became a meaningful platform to envision a fair, peaceful, and harmonious society.
Cleaning Up After Kandy’s Grand Festival: A Step Toward Peace 🌍✨
In Kandy, Sri Lanka, HWPL joined hands with the Environmental Development and Welfare Foundation (EDWF), Kandy City Council, and the Kandy Youth Association to carry out a post-festival cleanup on August 10. The activity was part of the “New Village Campaign” and followed the famous Esala Perahera, the country’s largest Buddhist festival.
A total of 41 people, including local officials, citizens, religious leaders, and HWPL members, participated in collecting and sorting waste, which was later handed over to the city council for proper management.
This initiative was more than just restoring the beauty of the city streets. It became a reminder of civic responsibility and the culture of peace within the community. Volunteers expressed their desire to continue supporting HWPL’s peace projects, while the event also opened doors for new partnerships, including cooperation with EDWF’s founder.
Looking ahead, HWPL plans to sign an official memorandum of understanding (MOU) with EDWF and the city council in September to build a lasting partnership.
The cleanup highlighted how small actions can spark meaningful change. Beyond waste collection, it showed the power of collaboration between citizens, youth, and faith leaders in creating a more united and sustainable future. HWPL also announced plans to expand the New Village Campaign across Sri Lanka, combining peace education, legislative initiatives, and active civic engagement for long-term peacebuilding.