Program · Southeast Asia · 2024–2027

Champions for Peace

A regional youth peacebuilding initiative addressing the root causes of conflict and building social cohesion across the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

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103

Youth trained at the 2025 Zamboanga pilot (target: 100)

650

Youth trained in total across the Champions for Peace network

Seed grants awarded across the region

260+

Community members already reached by seed-grant projects

Youth leaders from 5 countries at the Jan 2026 Regional Conference

85%

Of trainees showed measurable learning gains (target: 80%)

The program

Piloted in Zamboanga. Built for the region.

Champions for Peace is a collaboration between the Kofi Annan Foundation and KRIS for Peace, in partnership with Temasek Foundation, the Nagulendran Philanthropy Alliance, and the Diana Koh Fund (administered by the Asia Community Foundation). It strengthens youth resilience to social and environmental fragility, and fosters social cohesion and harmony across Southeast Asia.

KRIS leads implementation in the Philippines, the pilot country, with the program expanding to Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand through 2026 and 2027.

Youth participants collaborate at a workshop table during Champions for Peace training, Zamboanga City.

Facilitators guide a small-group discussion during Champions for Peace training.

Curriculum

Seven modules, built for real communities.

Training covers resilience, mental health and Psychological First Aid, social cohesion, environmental fragility and climate resilience, and project development, all grounded in the realities participants bring from home.

Practical tool

The STAR method

Stop – Think – Act – Reflect: the most widely cited practical framework to come out of the pilot, used by participants to de-escalate conflict and make decisions under pressure.

Timeline

From launch to a regional network.

October 2024
Virtual public launch
Dec 2024 – Jun 2025
Baseline study
84 youth engaged across 8 Philippine communities through 16 focus group discussions.
July 2025
Training of Trainers
10 facilitators trained in Makati City.
Aug 8–10, 2025
Pilot training, Zamboanga City
103 youth trained from 570+ applicants, at the Grand Astoria Hotel.
Sept – Dec 2025
Seed grants awarded
The first community projects are funded in Maguindanao del Sur, Marawi City, Manila, San Jose del Monte, Caloocan City, and Bulacan.
Jan 25–31, 2026
Regional Conference, Singapore
53 youth leaders from 5 countries convene at YWCA Singapore.

Seed-grant projects · 2025 cohort

What the pilot cohort built.

Manila

CARE Certified

60 university students trained in Psychological First Aid.

Maguindanao del Sur

TINDIG: Youth for Peace

56 youth engaged, evolving into a standing youth network pursuing government accreditation.

Marawi / Lanao del Sur

Project REDO

Delivered in partnership with the Ranaw Youth Development Office; also pursuing formal accreditation.

San Jose del Monte & Caloocan

Community Dialogue Initiatives

Structured dialogue sessions building trust across divided communities.

Metro Manila

Youth Climate-Peace Initiative

Connecting climate resilience to community social cohesion.

Bulacan & Caloocan

Women Beyond Bars · Pitik, Tula, at Kwentong Baha

Livelihood support and climate storytelling projects for underserved communities.

Regional partner organizations

Philippines

KRIS for Peace, lead implementer

Singapore

hash.peace

Indonesia

IYES

Thailand

Dot to Dot

Malaysia

Small Changes

“This was the first time I felt truly heard in a national youth platform.”— Participant, Champions for Peace pilot, Zamboanga City, 2025

“The inaugural Champions for Peace Regional Workshop this morning is indeed a milestone.”— Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister of State, Singapore Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Manpower

From the pilot