One hundred young leaders from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the Philippines participated in the Champions for Peace training on resilience and social cohesion, “๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐๐ต,” held earlier this year in Zamboanga City.
The training marks a significant milestone in the three-year Champions for Peace initiative, which is implemented in collaboration withย the Kofi Annan Foundation and KRIS for Peace, and in partnership withย Temasek Foundation, Nagulendran Philanthropy Alliance, and the Diana Koh Fund, administered by theย Asia Community Foundation.
Over the course of three days of learning, reflection, and collaboration, participants deepened their understanding of the connections between environmental, social, and community resilience.
“By actively participating in the community, youth like me can help create solutions to the issues our community is facing.”
– Youth Participant
They developed practical ideas for strengthening cohesion and promoting peace in their local contextsโideas that are now being implemented through seed grants.
Out of 28 proposals, five seed grants have been awarded, and more projects have gotten support from the local government. From supporting young people’s mental health to amplifying stories of communities affected by flooding, the five projects awarded seed grants demonstrate the creativity and determination of young leaders across the Philippines.
“Young people experience the impact of local policies firsthand, so our perspectives should be part of the conversation. By showing up, sharing our ideas, and listening to others, we help create decisions that are inclusive and relevant to everyone.”
– Youth Participant
Each initiative, designed and led by Champions for Peace participants, brings together young people from diverse backgrounds to address local needs while advancing shared regional goals of harmony, sustainability, and peace.
The next step in the Champions for Peace Journey
The pilot training in the Philippines was built on months of groundwork by KRIS, including a baseline study and youth consultations to identify key challenges and opportunities for resilience.
“I am now confident about being open to hearing different ideas, learning from othersโ experiences, and accepting perspectives that are different from mine. Hearing diverse stories during the training showed me that openness builds trust and makes teamwork stronger.โ
– Youth Participant
Following the success of this pilot, the Champions for Peace programme will expand in 2026 to Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, and establish a regional platform for youth-led action on harmony in diversity in Southeast Asia.
