About KRIS for Peace
A family's peace library became a movement across a region.
Kristiyano Islam Peace Library Inc., known as KRIS for Peace, is a Philippine non-profit accelerating peace and progress through education and youth leadership.
The first Kristiyano-Islam Peace Library opens in Manicahan, Zamboanga City.
Our roots
Born from one interfaith family's answer to conflict.
KRIS was founded in 2008 by Armand Nocum, a journalist, and Ann Nocum, an entrepreneur. He is Catholic and she is Muslim. Together with their daughter, Arizza, they built the first Kristiyano-Islam Peace Library in Manicahan, Zamboanga City. It was a small, deliberate act of harmony, set against the conflict that had touched millions of Filipino lives.
The family believed education was the surest path to peace, so they kept going. Five more libraries followed in conflict- and poverty-affected communities, offering free books, computers, and social-cohesion activities to children growing up in the shadow of violent extremism.
In 2011, Arizza took the helm of KRIS and launched a scholarship program for youth in conflict- and poverty-affected areas. From 2018, the organization shifted its focus toward building young Filipinos' capacities as peacebuilders, a partnership with the Kofi Annan Foundation's Extremely Together alliance that continues today and now extends across Southeast Asia through Champions for Peace and the new APEX programme.
Fifteen-plus years
How the work has grown.
- 2008–2012
Six peace libraries built
Free books, computers, and internet access reach children in Zamboanga, Quezon City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Rizal, and Davao, many in areas recovering from armed conflict or displacement.
- 2011–2017
400 scholarships awarded
Students from preschool to university receive KRIS scholarships. Graduates now work as teachers, health professionals, civil servants, and community leaders.
- 2020
Extremely Together Philippines launches
With the Kofi Annan Foundation and European Union funding, KRIS launches Panaghiusa, training youth-led CSOs in preventing and countering violent extremism.
- 2021
Named a Ten Accomplished Youth Organization (TAYO)
National recognition for youth-led community impact, alongside a YouthLED Democracy Award from The Asia Foundation.
- 2024–2025
Champions for Peace launches regionally
With the Kofi Annan Foundation, Temasek Foundation, Nagulendran Philanthropy Alliance, and Diana Koh Fund, KRIS pilots a 5-country Southeast Asian youth peacebuilding initiative from Zamboanga City.
- 2025
The Applied Peace Network begins
KRIS teams up with Innovations in Peacebuilding, a US-based NGO, to run a seminar that trains emerging Filipino peace practitioners. It started as the Aspiring Peacebuilders Seminar and is now called APN.
- 2026
APEX begins
The ASEAN Peace Exchange Leadership Programme extends KRIS's model to all 11 ASEAN member states, while a second APN cohort trains in June.
Panaghiusa Peace Camp, 2021
Young Filipinos leading the way.
Our vision
A world where young people can realize their full potential.
Equipped with access to quality education, leadership opportunities, gainful livelihoods, and meaningful connections to policymakers, civil society, and the private sector, leading the way in accelerating peace and development.
Our mission
Educate. Empower. Inspire.
KRIS educates, empowers, and inspires young Filipinos through programs and partnerships that let them create ripples of positive change, starting with themselves, then their families, schools, workplaces, and communities.
Our goals, 2025–2030
youth reached through education and capacity-building programs
youth empowered to lead peacebuilding and social cohesion through seed grants
youth organizations mobilized to call for collective action on peace and development
Why this work matters
The Philippines has its largest-ever generation of young people, growing up in one of the region's most conflict-exposed countries.
The Philippines ranked 19th globally, and 2nd in Asia-Pacific after Myanmar, on the 2024 Global Terrorism Index. Since 2011, the Bangsamoro region alone has recorded more than 22,800 conflict incidents and roughly 8,800 to 9,000 deaths, on top of an ongoing communist insurgency.
Young people are disproportionately exposed to this conflict, and disproportionately vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups. KRIS exists to change what happens next for them.
Who we are
Meet the team.
Arizza Nocum
Daughter of a Muslim mother and a Catholic father. One of ten global leaders chosen to head the Extremely Together alliance under the Kofi Annan Foundation, and a One Young World Ambassador.
Claire De Lune Lopez
Full profile coming soon.
Krizza Mae Barabat
Full profile coming soon.
Bea Abdul
Full profile coming soon.
Krizzhana Barabat
Full profile coming soon.
Cedrix Rodriguez
Former finance and audit professional at two of the Philippines' largest companies, now supporting KRIS's operations and partner NGOs.
Paula Gendrano
2018 JENESYS exchange alumna in Tokyo. Former volunteer at the Global Peace Foundation, the US Embassy, and the DFA.
Recognition
TAYO Award
Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations, TAYO Foundation, 2021
YouthLED Democracy Award
The Asia Foundation, 2021
Kaisa ng Bayan Awardee
Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, 2016
One Young World Feature
Global Community Impact Report, 2022