Empowering young people in Southeast Asia to address pressing issues in their communities and contribute to a more peaceful and sustainable future.
The Challenge
Southeast Asia has a diverse backdrop of ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds. While progress has been made, some tensions remain today, contributing to challenges such as marginalisation and instability in certain areas.
Most of the region’s population is under 30 years old, yet young people may not be actively involved in the decision-making processes. This disengagement may potentially lead to feelings of disconnection. While Southeast Asia’s rich cultural and religious diversity is a strength, it also presents some challenges. Misunderstandings and the lack of dialogue between different communities can lead to mistrust and conflict. Furthermore, the region faces environmental and economic challenges, from climate change to poverty, which may undermine social cohesion.
Given these challenges, there is an urgent need to empower young leaders as agents of peace and positive change. By equipping young leaders with the skills, resources, and platforms they need, the Champions for Peace programme aims to address the root causes of conflict, foster mutual understanding, and build a more peaceful and inclusive Southeast Asia.
“I am often asked what can people do to become a good global citizen? I reply that it begins in your own community.”
Kofi Annan
About Champions for Peace
Through the Champions for Peace programme, the Kofi Annan Foundation and KRIS, in partnership with Temasek Foundation, Nagulendran Philanthropy Alliance and the Diana Koh Fund, administered by Asia Community Foundation, aim to strengthen youth resilience to social and environmental challenges by fostering social cohesion and harmony across Southeast Asia. The Champions for Peace programme will be piloted in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand and aims to empower young people to address pressing issues in their communities and contribute to a more peaceful and sustainable future.
Goals & Objectives
Our overarching goal is to create a more peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable future for Southeast Asia, driven by the active participation and leadership of its youth. We aim to do that in five main ways:
- Strengthen Youth-Led Peacebuilding Initiatives
- Promote Intercultural Dialogue
- Advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Enhance Regional Collaboration
- Develop Capacity and Leadership Skills
Activities
We will achieve these goals through the following activities:
- Develop and kick off a training programme on building a peaceful and sustainable future for young leaders in the Philippines.
- Establish a regional platform for mutual learning, networking, and joint action among youth-led organizations in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, through online meetings and a regional gathering in Singapore.
- Equip young people from diverse backgrounds across the five countries to lead peacebuilding initiatives.
- To inspire further action, share lessons and recommendations resulting from this experience at regional and international levels.
“Any society that does not succeed in tapping into the energy and creativity of its youth will be left behind.”
Kofi Annan
Projected Impact
Champions for Peace
600
Strengthen the capacities of at least 600 young people in Southeast Asia to tackle peace and sustainability challenges
Support 20 youth-led initiatives, mobilizing 1,000 young people across the region
1,000
1 million
Raise public awareness about solutions for building peaceful and sustainable futures, reaching at least 1 million people
Plus – inspire policymakers and other stakeholders to prioritize youth-led actions for social cohesion!
Do you want to help build a fairer, more peaceful world?
Support us with your philanthropic gifts and grants
Partners
Champions for Peace
KRIS is a non-profit organization based in the Philippines that aims to promote peace and development through education and youth leadership by empowering young people to create ripples of positive change that start with themselves.
The KRIS team is composed of passionate young leaders with a wealth of experience in peace and development, social work, education, and communication
Temasek Foundation supports a diverse range of programmes that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and beyond. Made possible through philanthropic endowments gifted by Temasek, an investment company headquartered in Singapore, Temasek Foundation’s programmes strive to achieve positive outcomes for individuals and communities now and for generations to come. Collectively, Temasek Foundation’s programmes strengthen social resilience, foster international exchange and regional capabilities, advance science, and protect the planet.
Nagulendran Philanthropy Alliance is a Swiss-based private philanthropic fund founded by Singaporeans Dorothy and John Nagulendran to promote a more peaceful world. Its mission is to harness the strategic value of private philanthropy by offering peacemakers a platform for creativity, personal growth, and empowerment.
Nagulendran Philanthropy Alliance builds collaborative alliances and accompanies its partners to design and implement innovative projects to support the next generation of peacemakers.
The Diana Koh Fund was established in memory of Ms Diana Koh Ming Ying, a highly successful professional in the field of accountancy who dedicated her whole estate to doing good for those less fortunate. Among its priorities, the Diana Koh Fund supports the empowerment of social impact organisations in Singapore and the region.
The Diana Koh Fund is administered by Asia Community Foundation, a Singapore-based charity connecting donors and social impact partners in Asia to catalyse funding for greater impact.
