New Program · ASEAN-wide · Launching 2026
ASEAN Peace Exchange Leadership Programme
APEX equips, connects, and amplifies emerging peace leaders from all 11 ASEAN member states. It's KRIS's most ambitious regional program yet.
Months, the full length of the APEX programme cycle
ASEAN member states eligible to take part
Partner organizations selected from 300+ regional applicants for the inaugural cohort
About the program
KRIS's peacebuilding model, scaled to a region.
APEX was announced by KRIS for Peace co-founder and President Arizza Nocum, and is funded through the Harmony in Diversity Fund. It extends the youth-leadership approach KRIS has refined through Extremely Together Philippines and Champions for Peace to the whole of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The inaugural cohort selected four partner organizations from more than 300 applicants across the region. It's the first step in building a peer network of emerging peace leaders who can develop real social-cohesion solutions for their own communities, organizations, and countries.
Programme design
A four-part model, over 24 months.
Needs assessment
Grounding the programme in the real social-cohesion challenges each participating country and organization faces.
Residential activities
In-person exchange bringing emerging leaders together across ASEAN borders.
Virtual learning
Sustained training between residencies, keeping the cohort connected and building skills.
Tailored mentorship
One-on-one support as participants develop and carry out their own social-cohesion solutions.
Peace leaders in action
Building a network across borders.
Who can take part
Open to emerging peace leaders from all 11 ASEAN member states.
Built on what already works
APEX picks up where Champions for Peace expands to.
Champions for Peace proved KRIS's model could work beyond the Philippines, piloting across five Southeast Asian countries. APEX is the next step: a dedicated leadership-exchange track open to every ASEAN member state, connecting emerging peacebuilders across the region's full diversity of contexts.
See Champions for Peace“Peace is not given — it is built. And it is built most durably when young people have ownership over the process.”— Arizza Nocum, President, KRIS for Peace