The Indonesia Jakarta Branch marked the first step in cultivating peace educators by conducting an online orientation for the first calss of the Sampit Women’s Peace Education (PLTE) Program on Feb 11, bringing together five women leaders from the Sampit region.
The program is co-organized by the Jakarta Branch and the Icheon Branch of the Republic of Korea, with Hwang Mi Seon, Manager of Icheon Branch, serving as the lead instructor throughout the entire course, which is conducted in Korean, English, and Indonesian. The full program consists of 10 online sessions and a 2-night, 3-day on-site workshop and completion ceremony. It aims to strengthen participants’ capacity as peace citizens, grounded in an understanding of core peace education values and the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).
Participants at the orientation shared their visions and aspirations as future women peace instructors. Gita Anggraini, a professor at Muhammadiyah Sampit University, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “Passing on the value of peace to the next generation in the Sampit region is of the utmost importance.” Yeon-Kyung Kang, Director of IWPG Global Region 1, remarked, “Education is the most powerful tool for planting the seeds of peace. We hope that the participants of this program will take a leading role in spreading a culture of peace throughout Indonesia.” The Sampit PLTE 1st class will continue through April 24, after which graduates are expected to serve as instructors and activists within their local communities, contributing to the broader dissemination of a culture of peace.

The Ulaanbaatar Branch held a peace seminar on Jan 30 at the Tuv Province Child Development Center under the theme “Women and Peace.” Approximately 50 participants attended, including staff from the Department of Child, Family, Development, and Protection, as well as social workers, engaging in a session to understand the meaning and importance of peace.
The seminar introduced IWPG’s legal status and key activities and explained the concept of peace and the purpose of the DPCW (Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War). It also provided concrete insights into how peace education can influence personal awareness and improve community relationships.
Participants acknowledged that their understanding of peace and the “Peace and Justice” goal of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) had previously been limited. While they had considered peace primarily as an international issue, the seminar helped them recognize its close relevance to their own lives and local communities. Although the session began with a somewhat passive atmosphere, participants became increasingly engaged over time. They stayed until the end, listening attentively, and concluded with bright expressions and positive responses. Some participants expressed a desire for peace education to be expanded to local community units.
Overall, the seminar served as a meaningful opportunity to broaden understanding of peace and to share the importance of respecting the value of every human being.

Global Region 1 continues to expand its collaboration with educational institutions in the Philippines. On 23 January, it signed an online Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Leyte Normal University (LNU) to foster cooperation in peace education and the empowerment of women and youth.
LNU is a national teacher training university representing Leyte Province in the Philippines, and has long been a leading higher education institution driving the spread of a culture of peace and educational innovation at the local, national, and international levels. At the heart of this agreement is the development and expansion of peace education programs, marking the beginning of a practical partnership aimed at strengthening the capacity of women and youth and promoting their active participation in peacebuilding. Both institutions plan to carry out a phased action plan, which includes a Women’s Peace Education program targeting 200 teachers, the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), and the implementation of joint projects.
Gil Nicetas B. Villarino, President of LNU, noted, “This collaboration marks a significant turning point in encouraging the empowerment of women and youth and their participation in peacebuilding,” adding, “We hope that a culture rooted in harmony and mutual respect will spread across the world.”

On Jan 10, Global Region 4 held an online Zoom meeting with the Myanmar branch managers. A total of 12 participants attended the meeting, including the Regional Director, the Executive Secretary, five domestic branch managers, and overseas team leaders—and two overseas branch managers from Myanmar. During the meeting, each branch manager gave a brief introduction and exchanged New Year’s greetings.
Khin Mu Mu Han, the Mandalay branch manager, expressed her gratitude for the warm hospitality, saying that she was impressed by the scale, organizational capacity, and professionalism of the Sep 18 World Peace Summit and the IWPC. Crystal Po Gyaw, the Yangon branch manager, also shared that she was deeply touched by the generous reception she received during her visit to the regional office last year. She further expressed her anticipation for concrete business discussions regarding future activities.

The Yeonsu Branch (Branch Manager Jeong Yeon-ju) held a ‘New Year’s Tteokguk Sharing’ event for local seniors at the Gwangyo Senior Welfare Center on January 30th, in celebration of Seollal, the traditional Korean New Year holiday, in collaboration with the Republic of Korea Special Forces Veterans Association Volunteer Corps.
The senior citizens and welfare center officials responded positively to the sincere and systematic service provided by Yeonsu Branch. They praised the branch as an organization that performs outstanding activities unlike other institutions and proposed future collaboration. Immediately after the event, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and promised continued cooperation in the future. This event served as an opportunity to share warmth with the local community while laying the foundation for cooperation between organizations. They also expressed their support and interest in peace activities and shared their willingness to actively cheer and cooperate to spread the value of peace in the future.

The Yeosu Branch of Global Region 2 (Branch Manager Yoon Gyeom Choi) visited Mapama Village on Yeojado Island in Yeosu on Jan 23 to operate a “Visiting Peace Program” for island residents.
This visit was designed to help residents naturally experience and practice the meaning of peace in their daily lives. In particular, it focused on establishing women and mothers as key agents of peace and spreading peace values through intergenerational empathy and communication. The program also carried the significance of promoting the successful hosting of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo.
The event began with recreational activities to strengthen bonds among residents, followed by a mini lecture highlighting that small acts of consideration and respect are the starting points of peace. Participants wrote personal pledges for practicing peace and shared their commitment to implementing peace within their families and community.
The professional beauty care program that followed was a lifestyle-centered peace initiative tailored to the living conditions of island communities. Beyond simple support, it provided meaningful time for participants to share their stories and care for one another emotionally, receiving a very positive response. Through this experience, residents were able to directly feel what “peace in everyday life” means.

The eight courses that composed this educational program did not merely provide theoretical knowledge; they transformed the way I see the world, reshaped my professional outlook, and deepened my sense of purpose in promoting peace within society. Through this experience, I came to understand that true justice does not lie simply in the application of laws, but in creating conditions where people can live free from fear, inequality, and violence.
First, this program opened a journey of self-awareness. I realized that speaking about peace begins with looking inward. It requires examining ourselves honestly — recognizing the emotions, prejudices, and personal conflicts we may unconsciously repeat, even while criticizing violence in the external world. Inner peace is not secondary to social transformation; it is a necessary starting point. Before attempting to change our surroundings, we must first cultivate peace within ourselves.
I also came to understand that peace is not established solely through treaties or regulations. It is built through education, art, dialogue, and respect for diversity. A culture of peace means planting values in the way we teach, discuss, and even disagree in our daily lives. By analyzing how ambition and the pursuit of power have fueled conflict throughout history, I realized how essential it is to nurture leaders guided by ethical responsibility. Peace requires leadership grounded not in domination, but in conscience.
After completing the eight courses, my philosophy of life solidified into a clear conviction: peace is born in consciousness and manifested through everyday action. In the past, I regarded peace mainly as an ideal discussed in international forums or expressed in treaties. Now I understand that peace begins in the simplest acts — in how I speak, how I listen, how I teach, and how I forgive.
Looking ahead, I will seek to create spaces within the university where students and professors can reflect together on peace. I will contribute to expanding peace education and fostering a culture of nonviolence, while helping to cultivate leaders grounded in empathy and responsibility. Furthermore, I intend to collaborate with organizations such as IWPG to promote women’s leadership and capacity-building initiatives, and to study practical approaches for implementing the DPCW in ways that reflect local contexts. I will strive to live out the conviction that “peace is taught by living peacefully,” embodying this belief in my daily life.