[HWPL] HWPL's ONE FIJI: Peace Talanoa for Unity and Reconciliation in Fiji
Chairman ManHee Lee is the head representative of the global peace organization HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), which is striving for the enactment and implementation of the international peace law 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)'. The DPCW is a legal instrument comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses that can end wars and hostilities throughout the world. HWPL is also spreading a culture of peace and implementing peace education.
Chairman ManHee Lee experienced the cruelty and tragedy of war as a veteran of the Korean War. This is one of the reasons why he founded a global peace campaign as the head of HWPL. He has traveled the globe more than 35 times to meet and persuade politicians, legal experts, journalists, professors, peace activists, civil organization leaders, heads of tribes and others to unite them for the work of peace. The significant fruits borne out of his hard work are the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit and HWPL Peace Committee. The DPCW was drafted and finalised by the HWPL Peace Committee.
How, you may wonder, do I know this? About 10 years ago, when I had just been discharged from military service, I came to know HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee while researching the topic of civil conflicts to satisfy my curiosity in ongoing global issues. At that time, the island of Mindanao in the Philippines was suffering from a major civil conflict that lasted more than 40 years, and Chairman ManHee Lee and HWPL resolved this conflict through non-violent means.
Chairman Lee brought an end to the conflict in Mindanao by holding a peace talk between the warring Catholic and Islamic groups. Before the talk, HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee held a Peace Walk to spread the culture of peace in Mindanao with the many locals who had gathered out of a desire for peace.
Chairman ManHee Lee's pressing appeal today is that humanity unites for sustainable peace in order to pass on the legacy of peace to future generations worldwide. He doesn't just talk peace, but has worked tirelessly for it through practical peace campaigns for over a decade.
I decided to become a supporter of HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee's peace initiatives because I also desire a world of peace for all posterity.
Today I'd like to introduce an article regarding HWPL's ONE FIJI: Peace Talanoa for Unity and Reconciliation in Fiji :)
Fiji’s Religious Leaders Pledge Unity and Reconciliation through Peace Talanoa
Forty-four religious, youth and education representatives gather in Suva to share the values of peace across faith and ethnic lines
Religious leaders and community representatives in Fiji came together to promote mutual understanding and unity across religious and ethnic boundaries.
The “ONE FIJI: Peace Talanoa for Unity and Reconciliation” was held on May 27 at the Darul Huda Complex in Suva, Fiji. The event brought together 44 religious leaders, youth leaders and representatives from the education sector to promote mutual respect and social cohesion in Fijian society through interfaith dialogue and peace education. The programme began at 6:30 p.m. and continued for approximately three hours.
Hon. Shalen Kumar, assistant minister for the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts, attends the event as the chief guest.
Hon. Shalen Kumar, assistant minister for the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts, attended the event as the chief guest. Religious leaders representing Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism delivered presentations on the meaning of peace and reconciliation from the perspectives of their respective faith traditions.
The speakers were Pandit Bhuwan Dutt of the Arya Samaj; Rev. Anil Reuben, deputy general secretary and minister of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma; Imam Kasim of the Fiji Muslim League; and Gurdev Kaur, a representative of Fiji’s Sikh community.
The speakers emphasized that peace is more than the absence of conflict. They described it as an ongoing process of restoring relationships and strengthening solidarity within communities through forgiveness, mutual respect, justice and dialogue.
Participants attentively take part in the “ONE FIJI: Peace Talanoa for Unity and Reconciliation” event.
Participants also watched a video featuring peacebuilding efforts in Mindanao and explored how dialogue and reconciliation can help transform conflict into peace. Several participants said they were deeply inspired by the example and expressed their commitment to taking a more active role in advancing peace in Fijian society.
A graduate of the Leadership Education Programme, or LEP, then shared reflections on completing the programme. Reflecting on the hardships and social conflicts Fiji has experienced, the speaker stressed the need to move beyond pain and division and build a united future through sincere dialogue, forgiveness and reconciliation.
The event also included an activity in which participants wrote messages of peace for future generations. The leaders wrote their messages on Fiji-themed drawings created by students of Suva Primary School. The drawings and messages were delivered to the school the following day.
The activity served as a reminder that today’s leaders have a responsibility to leave a peaceful future for Fiji’s children.
Throughout the programme, participants also expressed support for the peace initiatives of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) and the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). They expressed appreciation for HWPL’s efforts to advance peace in the international community and affirmed their commitment to continued cooperation in promoting a culture of peace throughout Fiji.
“ONE FIJI: Peace Talanoa for Unity and Reconciliation” provided a meaningful platform for Fiji’s diverse religious and ethnic communities to unite around the shared goals of peace and reconciliation.
Participants concluded the gathering by pledging to contribute to national unity and lasting peace in Fiji through continued dialogue and mutual respect.
[IPYG] IPYG and the National Youth Council of Malawi's Peace Education in Malawi
Chairman ManHee Lee is the head representative of the global peace organization HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), which is striving for the enactment and implementation of the international peace law 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)'. The DPCW is a legal instrument comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses that can end wars and hostilities throughout the world. HWPL is also spreading a culture of peace and implementing peace education.
Chairman ManHee Lee experienced the cruelty and tragedy of war as a veteran of the Korean War. This is one of the reasons why he founded a global peace campaign as the head of HWPL. He has traveled the globe more than 35 times to meet and persuade politicians, legal experts, journalists, professors, peace activists, civil organization leaders, heads of tribes and others to unite them for the work of peace. The significant fruits borne out of his hard work are the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit and HWPL Peace Committee. The DPCW was drafted and finalised by the HWPL Peace Committee.
How, you may wonder, do I know this? About 10 years ago, when I had just been discharged from military service, I came to know HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee while researching the topic of civil conflicts to satisfy my curiosity in ongoing global issues. At that time, the island of Mindanao in the Philippines was suffering from a major civil conflict that lasted more than 40 years, and Chairman ManHee Lee and HWPL resolved this conflict through non-violent means.
Chairman Lee brought an end to the conflict in Mindanao by holding a peace talk between the warring Catholic and Islamic groups. Before the talk, HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee held a Peace Walk to spread the culture of peace in Mindanao with the many locals who had gathered out of a desire for peace.
Chairman ManHee Lee's pressing appeal today is that humanity unites for sustainable peace in order to pass on the legacy of peace to future generations worldwide. He doesn't just talk peace, but has worked tirelessly for it through practical peace campaigns for over a decade.
I decided to become a supporter of HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee's peace initiatives because I also desire a world of peace for all posterity.
Today I'd like to introduce an article regarding HWPL's affiliate youth group, IPYG. IPYG and the National Youth Council of Malawi's Peace Education in Malawi. :)
IPYG and the National Youth Council of Malawi Successfully Conclude Youth Peace Leadership Education
More than 1,000 Young People Join, Establishing a Peace Education Model Through Collaboration Between Government and Youth Networks
An international peace education program aimed at helping young people grow into leaders who promote peace in their communities and countries was held in Malawi.
From May 28 to June 25, IPYG and the National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) jointly conducted the 2026 Youth Empowerment Peace Class (YEPC) and successfully concluded the program.
The program was designed to strengthen collaboration between a government institution and a youth network while helping young people in Malawi understand the value of peace and develop the capacity to become peace leaders who will contribute to their communities and the country’s development.
IPYG designed the overall curriculum, provided the peace education content, and managed the online program. Meanwhile, NYCOM recruited participants and promoted the program through youth organizations and youth leader networks across the country. Through the program, participants actively engaged in the training while reflecting on the meaning of peace in their respective roles.
This program also aligns with the direction of Malawi 2063, the country’s long-term national development strategy, which identifies youth empowerment, civic participation, and social development as key priorities. IPYG and NYCOM designed the program to enable young people to become active contributors to peacebuilding and community development, rather than remaining beneficiaries of these efforts.
The program consisted of five sessions: three sessions on Heritage, one session on Artificial Intelligence (AI), and one session on Youth Leadership.
The Heritage sessions explored religious and cultural heritage from around the world, highlighting how understanding diversity and respecting different cultures and religions form the foundation of peaceful communities. Participants learned that peace is a shared heritage to be passed on to future generations through examples such as cultural festivals around the world and the peacebuilding experience in Mindanao, the Philippines. They also reflected on how practicing and promoting peace in their own lives can become a form of “living heritage.”
The AI session, titled “The AI Vaccine: Building Resilience for Peace,” introduced generative AI as a practical tool for young peace leaders. Participants learned how to use major AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Grok, while also exploring the importance of analytical thinking and resilience as essential competencies for the future.
The session particularly emphasized the message, “AI does not create peace; people create peace. Technology is a tool, and the human heart is the compass.” It highlighted the importance of using technology responsibly and ethically.
The final Youth Leadership session was led by Alick Kampeza, a peacebuilding and social cohesion specialist from the Department of National Unity under Malawi’s Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Kampeza contributed to the enactment of the Peace and Unity Act (2022), the establishment of the Malawi Peace and Unity Commission and local Peace and Unity Committees, and the development of Malawi’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (UNSCR 2250). He currently supports national and local initiatives across Malawi to promote peace, social cohesion, and inclusive governance.
During the session, Kampeza emphasized that young people can become key players in building peaceful communities and explained the impact of conflict and violence on young people and their communities. He also introduced the youth leadership curriculum of HWPL and IPYG in connection with Malawi’s peacebuilding and social cohesion efforts, explaining that youth leadership plays an essential role in facilitating dialogue, preventing conflict, and fostering resilient and peaceful communities.
He added, “Through this program, we have reaffirmed that young people are not merely beneficiaries of peace, but key actors in building peaceful, inclusive, and resilient communities.” He continued, “The collaboration among IPYG, NYCOM, and the Government of Malawi has helped youths broaden both their practical knowledge of peace and their international perspectives. It serves as a meaningful example of international cooperation for youth empowerment.”
Participants shared that the program helped them gain a new understanding of the relationship between cultural heritage and peace and recognize the importance of respecting different cultures and religions.
Juliana Paul, a student at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), said, “I came to see religion not only as cultural heritage but also as a means of building peace.”
Emmanuel Joseph, a participant, commented, “The message that inspired me most was that fear arises when we do not know one another. I realized that understanding others is the starting point of peace and communication.”
Solomon Madalitso Mlinda, a program coordinator at NYCOM, said, “Peacebuilding is one of NYCOM’s key areas of focus. We are pleased to support young people in Malawi in participating in an international educational program. Going forward, we will expand the program through offline training so that more young people will have access to peace education.”
More than 1,000 young people from across Malawi registered for the program, and a cumulative total of 1,005 participants attended the five live sessions. Online learning through recorded lectures is continuing, and participants who complete the entire program will receive a certificate jointly issued by NYCOM and IPYG.
Looking ahead, NYCOM plans to expand offline YEPC activities and establish Youth Engagement & Peacebuilding Working Groups (YEPW) at universities and within local communities. Working with youth leaders, including Mercy Mulonda, former vice president of the Student Representative Council at the University of Malawi, NYCOM also plans to support program graduates in designing and implementing community-based peace projects.
[IPYG] IPYG's Friends: Aloshikha Rajihar Social Development Center in Bangladesh
Chairman ManHee Lee is the head representative of the global peace organization HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), which is striving for the enactment and implementation of the international peace law 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)'. The DPCW is a legal instrument comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses that can end wars and hostilities throughout the world. HWPL is also spreading a culture of peace and implementing peace education.
Chairman ManHee Lee experienced the cruelty and tragedy of war as a veteran of the Korean War. This is one of the reasons why he founded a global peace campaign as the head of HWPL. He has traveled the globe more than 35 times to meet and persuade politicians, legal experts, journalists, professors, peace activists, civil organization leaders, heads of tribes and others to unite them for the work of peace. The significant fruits borne out of his hard work are the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit and HWPL Peace Committee. The DPCW was drafted and finalised by the HWPL Peace Committee.
How, you may wonder, do I know this? About 10 years ago, when I had just been discharged from military service, I came to know HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee while researching the topic of civil conflicts to satisfy my curiosity in ongoing global issues. At that time, the island of Mindanao in the Philippines was suffering from a major civil conflict that lasted more than 40 years, and Chairman ManHee Lee and HWPL resolved this conflict through non-violent means.
Chairman Lee brought an end to the conflict in Mindanao by holding a peace talk between the warring Catholic and Islamic groups. Before the talk, HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee held a Peace Walk to spread the culture of peace in Mindanao with the many locals who had gathered out of a desire for peace.
Chairman ManHee Lee's pressing appeal today is that humanity unites for sustainable peace in order to pass on the legacy of peace to future generations worldwide. He doesn't just talk peace, but has worked tirelessly for it through practical peace campaigns for over a decade.
I decided to become a supporter of HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee's peace initiatives because I also desire a world of peace for all posterity.
Today I'd like to introduce an article regarding HWPL's affiliate youth group, IPYG's affiliate organization: Aloshikha Rajihar Social Development Center in Bangladesh :)
Introducing an IPYG Affiliate Organization – Aloshikha Rajihar Social Development Center, Bangladesh
Partnership Ceremony
Aloshikha Rajihar Social Development Center (hereinafter “Aloshikha”), established in 1985, is a non-governmental organization that has operated eight branches across four regions of Bangladesh for about 40 years. It has carried out various local development projects, such as strengthening community capacity, supporting low-income populations, and developing environmental resources. Recently, it has expanded its scope of activities to health, education, livelihood support, climate change and disaster response, and water and sanitation improvement, thereby expanding more opportunities for sustainable development.
Eco Ten Minutes
In May last year, Aloshikha formed a partnership with IPYG and pledged to build a youth-led culture of peace. Since then, it has been taking the lead in spreading a culture of peace within local communities by participating in IPYG’s “Eco Ten Minutes Project,” which practices peace through just 10 minutes of environmental cleanup a day. Following the cooperation between IPYG and Aloshikha, 16 other organizations in Barisal Division have also signed partnerships with IPYG, joining the efforts to build a peace network.
Along with its participation in the Eco Ten Minutes Project, Aloshikha is helping a sustainable culture of peace take root in Bangladesh and expanding its influence through the “Youth Leaders Club,” which is composed of organization heads.
Youth Leaders Club in Barisal
James Mridul Halder, Executive Director of Aloshikha Rajihar Social Development Center (Aloshikha RSD Center), shared his vision:
“Aloshikha Rajihar Social Development Center, in partnership with IPYG, is working to build a peaceful and self-reliant society through community development and youth empowerment. We view Bangladesh’s younger generation as the key driving force behind unity and positive change. By investing in their potential and working together to foster a culture of peace, we aim to build a brighter and more united future.”
Chairman ManHee Lee is the head representative of the global peace organization HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), which is striving for the enactment and implementation of the international peace law 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)'. The DPCW is a legal instrument comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses that can end wars and hostilities throughout the world. HWPL is also spreading a culture of peace and implementing peace education.
Chairman ManHee Lee experienced the cruelty and tragedy of war as a veteran of the Korean War. This is one of the reasons why he founded a global peace campaign as the head of HWPL. He has traveled the globe more than 35 times to meet and persuade politicians, legal experts, journalists, professors, peace activists, civil organization leaders, heads of tribes and others to unite them for the work of peace. The significant fruits borne out of his hard work are the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit and HWPL Peace Committee. The DPCW was drafted and finalised by the HWPL Peace Committee.
How, you may wonder, do I know this? About 10 years ago, when I had just been discharged from military service, I came to know HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee while researching the topic of civil conflicts to satisfy my curiosity in ongoing global issues. At that time, the island of Mindanao in the Philippines was suffering from a major civil conflict that lasted more than 40 years, and Chairman ManHee Lee and HWPL resolved this conflict through non-violent means.
Chairman Lee brought an end to the conflict in Mindanao by holding a peace talk between the warring Catholic and Islamic groups. Before the talk, HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee held a Peace Walk to spread the culture of peace in Mindanao with the many locals who had gathered out of a desire for peace.
Chairman ManHee Lee's pressing appeal today is that humanity unites for sustainable peace in order to pass on the legacy of peace to future generations worldwide. He doesn't just talk peace, but has worked tirelessly for it through practical peace campaigns for over a decade.
I decided to become a supporter of HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee's peace initiatives because I also desire a world of peace for all posterity.
Today I'd like to introduce an article regarding HWPL's DPCW in Philippines :)
Local government resolutions supporting HWPL and the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) are being successively adopted in the Special Geographic Area (SGA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippines, expanding community-centered peace governance.
Following the official adoption of Resolution No. 40, Series of 2025 by the Municipality of Kapalawan on October 27 last year, the Municipal Government of Kadayangan also passed Municipal Resolution No. 2025-045, Series of 2025 during the 10th Regular Session of the Second Sangguniang Bayan on December 1. Both municipal governments officially expressed their commitment to promoting peace based on law, education, dialogue, and cooperation, and to spreading a culture of mutual understanding and non-violence.
These achievements are the fruits of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on July 31, 2025, between HWPL and the Schools Division of SGA under the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE-BARMM). Following the agreement, peace education began in earnest across 116 schools under the leadership of Superintendent Edgar Sumapal, and the peace education program is spreading throughout the region with the support of Dr. Ali Zumbaga, the Peace Education Focal Person of SGA.
Dr. Ali Zumbaga emphasized, “Peace must be built on law and cooperation,” adding, “Institutional frameworks and community cooperation are essential to preventing conflict and realizing sustainable peace.”
Hon. Datu Prince Salman Karon, Chair of the Committee on Education, Culture and Heritage, who sponsored the resolution of the Municipal Government of Kadayangan, stressed, “We must further strengthen peacebuilding efforts and community cooperation for the harmonious development of the local community.” Members of the Sangguniang Bayan also expressed their active support for expanding peaceful coexistence and collaboration at both local and global levels.
Furthermore, Dr. Musa Damao, Executive Director of the Bangsamoro Dialogue for Peace and Justice Inc., stated, “Peace and order must remain our highest priority. The Bangsamoro region, which has experienced a long history of conflict, must build a stable and united future through cooperation and dialogue.”
The two adopted resolutions contain a strong determination to actively reflect the values of peace in local administration, education, and community development, and to practice the international peace principles presented by the DPCW at the local level. In particular, the Municipalities of Kapalawan and Kadayangan are evaluated to have laid the institutional foundation for conflict resolution and social integration through dialogue by participating in international peace activities.
The background of this achievement was also largely attributed to the roles of the SGA delegation, district leaders, and local government officials who previously attended the HWPL Peace Summit held in South Korea. By attending the Peace Summit, they deepened their understanding of HWPL’s international peace activities and strengthened their commitment to promoting practical peace policies at the community level.
HWPL extended its deep gratitude to all stakeholders, including the Municipalities of Kapalawan and Kadayangan, the Schools Division of SGA, MBHTE-BARMM, Superintendent Edgar Sumapal, Dr. Ali Zumbaga, Hon. Datu Prince Salman Karon, Dr. Musa Damao, district leaders, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan, who cooperated for the adoption of the resolutions.
The adoption of resolutions by the local governments in the Philippines is an exemplary case where a cooperation model built together by local governments, educational institutions, and communities through peace education led to practical policy outcomes. It is expected to become a new milestone in spreading a sustainable culture of peace beyond the BARMM region and into the international community.
Chairman ManHee Lee is the head representative of the global peace organization HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), which is striving for the enactment and implementation of the international peace law 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)'. The DPCW is a legal instrument comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses that can end wars and hostilities throughout the world. HWPL is also spreading a culture of peace and implementing peace education.
Chairman ManHee Lee experienced the cruelty and tragedy of war as a veteran of the Korean War. This is one of the reasons why he founded a global peace campaign as the head of HWPL. He has traveled the globe more than 35 times to meet and persuade politicians, legal experts, journalists, professors, peace activists, civil organization leaders, heads of tribes and others to unite them for the work of peace. The significant fruits borne out of his hard work are the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit and HWPL Peace Committee. The DPCW was drafted and finalised by the HWPL Peace Committee.
How, you may wonder, do I know this? About 10 years ago, when I had just been discharged from military service, I came to know HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee while researching the topic of civil conflicts to satisfy my curiosity in ongoing global issues. At that time, the island of Mindanao in the Philippines was suffering from a major civil conflict that lasted more than 40 years, and Chairman ManHee Lee and HWPL resolved this conflict through non-violent means.
Chairman Lee brought an end to the conflict in Mindanao by holding a peace talk between the warring Catholic and Islamic groups. Before the talk, HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee held a Peace Walk to spread the culture of peace in Mindanao with the many locals who had gathered out of a desire for peace.
Chairman ManHee Lee's pressing appeal today is that humanity unites for sustainable peace in order to pass on the legacy of peace to future generations worldwide. He doesn't just talk peace, but has worked tirelessly for it through practical peace campaigns for over a decade.
I decided to become a supporter of HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee's peace initiatives because I also desire a world of peace for all posterity.
Today I'd like to introduce an article regarding HWPL's Peace Education in Lesotho :)
[Lesotho Special] No More Conflict—Children in Lesotho Choose Peace
How HWPL Peace Education Is Transforming Schools Across Lesotho
In a small rural village in southern Lesotho, a 16-year-old who grew up in a school once plagued by class boycotts and vandalism puts it simply:
“The fights have really gone down. Now we sort it out among ourselves, or we talk to the Peace Minister.”
SocialIssues & Advocacy
— Relebohile Maseru, Grade 10, Ribaneng High School, Lesotho
Peace Minister is not a government post. It is a role students take on themselves, through student-led governance. When conflict comes up, classmates go to this student representative instead of a teacher to talk it through. So how did this all start?
Children Who Used to Walk Out
Lesotho is a small kingdom in southern Africa. More than half the population—54.7%—lives below the poverty line, and youth unemployment sits at 34%. Even finishing school does not guarantee a job, and 40% of young people are left with no education, no work, and no training to fall back on. There is a safety net on paper, but it rarely reaches the people who need it. Schools exist, but for many kids, they haven’t been enough to change where life is headed.
That frustration does not stay outside the school gates. Researchers who have studied schools in Lesotho point to widespread verbal and physical violence among students, tracing it back to poverty, broken families, absent parents. When nobody seems to be listening, there aren’t many ways left to be heard. Walking out of class was one of them.
Relebohile puts it this way:
“When someone goes on strike, it means they feel ignored or unheard, so they pause everything. Students don’t attend class because they want their complaints to be heard.”
— Relebohile Maseru, Grade 10, Ribaneng High School, Lesotho
When Puleng Nkaleche took over as principal of Ribaneng High School in 2019, the school was barely holding together. Class boycotts and vandalism kept happening, enrollment had fallen below 100 students, and trust between teachers and students had all but disappeared—made worse by lingering tension from the change in leadership. Puleng went looking for help, first from the Ministry of Education, then from school administrators.
“I knew something had to change. I just didn’t know where to start.”
— Puleng Nkaleche, Principal, Ribaneng High School, Lesotho
Education
That search eventually led her to HWPL through DPE—the Development for Peace Education. DPE is a Lesotho-based civil society organization that partners with HWPL to bring peace education into schools nationwide. It now runs teacher training and workshops in more than 24 schools across eight regions of Lesotho, helping peace education take root not as a one-off lesson, but as part of everyday school life.
The Students Who Became Peace Ministers
HWPL Peace Education works by helping students build peaceful attitudes and values inside the school first, so they can carry them into everyday life and into society later on. Through it, students learn values that are deeply tied to real life—diversity and cooperation, coexistence and harmony, selflessness and sacrifice, love and care for nature, respect for elders. And they do not just learn about these values—they practice them right there in the classroom. Respect and consideration toward classmates. Respect and courtesy toward teachers. None of it stops when the bell rings; it carries on through the rest of the school day. This wasn’t knowledge memorized from a textbook—it was something the children learned with their whole selves. And that’s what changed them.
After Puleng brought peace education into the school, the first thing that shifted was how the school was actually run. Students started taking part directly. A Peace Minister, an Education Minister, a Food Security Minister, a Finance Minister. Student representatives took on real responsibilities, working through actual school problems together. Instead of boycotting the class when something went wrong, they learned to raise their concerns through their own representatives.
SocialIssues & Advocacy
“These weren’t just students anymore. They were the Peace Minister, the Education Minister, the Food Security Minister, the Finance Minister. And they actually solved problems.”
— Puleng Nkaleche, Principal, Ribaneng High School, Lesotho
In 2020, a shortfall in the sports budget put the school’s participation in a competition at risk. In the past, that kind of frustration might have turned into a boycott. This time, the student council put together a fundraising plan and carried it out themselves. Faced with a real budget problem, the students found their own answer—and made it to the competition.
Ribaneng High School
Education
Not every teacher was on board right away. For some, the whole approach felt unfamiliar, even like one more thing piled onto an already full workload. But the shift came, slowly and then unmistakably. These days, those same teachers are the ones incorporating peace education into their own lessons. Teacher Maseilatsatsi Serobinyane puts it this way:
“I hope every teacher carries the message of peace wherever they go, and actually practices peaceful ways of resolving conflict.”
— Maseilatsatsi Serobinyane, Teacher, Ribaneng High School, Lesotho
The change didn’t stop at the school gates. Relebohile once watched a friend step in to settle a money dispute between her younger brothers at home. Instead of running to their parents, the friend sat the boys down and talked it through calmly. The shift Relebohile describes—it started right there in that classroom.
What the students first practiced at school was now quietly spreading into their homes, and into their villages.
Peace, in Its Own Way, Across Lesotho
Ribaneng wasn’t the only one. All across Lesotho, the same kind of shift was happening — each school finding its own version of it.
Morifi Community High School—Peace That Changed the Grades Too
In 2021, Noangelina Debeshe, principal of Morifi Community High School in Lesotho, encountered peace education through DPE for the first time. At first, only she and one teacher signed up for the training.
“It started with me and one teacher. Just the two of us. But we started anyway. That’s how the seed of peace got planted.”
— Noangelina Debeshe, Principal, Morifi Community High School, Lesotho
Education
When she returned and told the rest of the staff what she had learned, every single teacher signed up on their own. A few were hesitant at first, but over time, as they worked through it together, the school became one team. Every Monday turned into Peace Education Day, with students choosing for themselves which value they would practice that week.
Morifi Community High School
Teacher Mpontseng Letsela explains that the lessons were never about facts from a textbook—they covered things students actually run into in real life: diversity and cooperation, coexistence and harmony, selflessness and sacrifice. Every Monday morning at assembly, students would present what they had learned, then practice it all week. The change went well beyond fewer fights. When conflicts came up, kids stopped going to find a teacher—they sat down and worked it out themselves. They said thank you first. They reached out first.
Education
Morifi Community High School
As conflict eased and classrooms settled down, students were finally able to focus on actually learning. That shift showed up in the numbers too. Lesotho’s Examination Council ranks top schools based on the share of students earning strong final exam results. In 2024, Morifi Community High School placed eighth nationally, landing on Lesotho’s Top 10 list. When Noangelina heard the news, she cried—happy tears.
“This is thanks to peace education. Teachers and students learned these values and lived them, and the classroom changed because of it. That change carried all the way through to the grades.”
— Noangelina Debeshe, Principal, Morifi Community High School, Lesotho
Lekopa Community Primary School—The Child Who Said Sorry First
Education
Malethako Mariam Khabele has led Lekopa Community Primary School for nine years now. Resources are tight, but she is committed to helping her students build the values and the character they need to live peacefully with others. She teaches lessons herself twice a week, walking the children through what it means to respect one another and say thank you.
The Principal and Deputy Principal of Lekopa Community Primary School
Deputy principal Makopano Chaka has watched the kids learn to talk through conflict instead of fighting over it. They are growing into children who say thank you first, who treat each other with respect. Chaka says teaching them has reminded her, all over again, just how much weight an educator’s role really carries.
The students took what they learned in class and put it into practice. They made thank-you cards for their parents, each one different, each one carrying something personal. And the change kept showing up inside the classroom too.
“Manini pushed Katleho — and right away, came back and said sorry.”
— Bohlokoa Lisene, Grade 4, Lekopa Community Primary School, Lesotho
Education
One sentence from a nine-year-old says more about what’s changed in that classroom than almost anything else could.
A Hundred Teachers, In One Room
An event held in Maseru this past March made one thing clear: this isn’t a story limited to a handful of schools.
HWPL and DPE jointly hosted a graduation ceremony for peace teachers. Around 100 teachers from across Lesotho filled the room that day, each having completed peace teacher training. Lesotho’s Deputy Minister of Education and Training attended in person, giving the occasion official weight.
SocialIssues & Advocacy
“Conflict and violence can’t be solved just by changing systems. Something has to shift inside people too — their values. That’s exactly why the role of teachers, who are right there with students every day, matters so much.”
— Deputy Minister of Education and Training, Lesotho
The Deputy Minister also said he hoped to see peace education become part of the national public school curriculum. The ceremony closed with all 100 teachers reading a pledge together—the Peace My Lesotho pledge, a commitment built on the idea that peace in Lesotho starts with each individual.
Together, the teachers made four promises. First: to keep teaching peace education, holding onto the belief that peace isn’t just a slogan, it is something you do. Second: to keep studying and sharing solid, well-researched peace education content. Third: to turn their own schools into places defined by respect and care. And fourth: to trust that even their small, individual efforts are stepping stones toward a peaceful Lesotho — and to build local networks that carry that work forward.
Peace education has brought real recovery and hope to our school and our students. Now our teachers are becoming the ones who carry that message of peace to the next generation.”
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— Puleng Nkaleche, Principal, Ribaneng High School, Lesotho
When the ceremony wrapped up, the 100 teachers headed back to their own schools. The fact that 100 teachers in Lesotho have now completed peace teacher training—and that the Ministry of Education showed up to be part of it—says something. Peace education in this country is no longer confined to individual schools. It’s becoming a national movement.
Where Peace Becomes the Culture of a Classroom
Noangelina doesn’t take credit for the Top 10 result. She says it belongs to the teachers and students, who each did their part—and that, if anything, the achievement has made her more humble, not less. She doesn’t want this change to stop at one school. She went straight to the Minister of Education herself, to share what peace education had done at Morifi. It was Noangelina who took that step, hoping peace education might one day find a home in every public school in Lesotho. To anyone weighing whether to try it, she has this to say:
“It’s possible. It worked at our school. Give it a try. Peace starts with one person, then spreads — to a family, a school, a village, a country.”
— Noangelina Debeshe, Principal, Morifi Community High School, Lesotho
At Ribaneng, Relebohile still reaches for dialogue, not conflict, when something comes up among friends. At Morifi, kids still decide every Monday morning which value they will live out that week. And in Lekopa, nine-year-old Bohlokoa learned something the day she watched a friend say sorry, unprompted. Three schools, three different places, three different paths to get here—but the children walking through them are all growing in the same direction.
With a hope that every child in Lesotho might one day grow up learning peace, classrooms across the country are—one by one—becoming places where peace is not just taught. It is lived.
