Peace Starts Here: Empowering Local Voices for Global Harmony
Author: Jamila-Aisha P. Sanguila
In a world plagued by conflict and crisis, achieving peace is a collective imperative. This article discusses a groundbreaking campaign initiated by ten diverse local peacebuilders from across the globe, aiming to catalyze transformative change within the peacebuilding sector. Emerging from discussions at the Peace Exchange event in Beirut, Lebanon, the Global Peacebuilding Campaign by Local Peacebuilders prioritizes inclusive, sustainable, and participatory approaches to conflict resolution. Grounded in the experiences and successes of local peacebuilders, the campaign fosters connection, collaboration, and a call to action, advocating for locally led peacebuilding efforts to be globally recognized and supported. Central to the campaign is the Peacebuilder’s Manifesto, which outlines key principles, including prioritizing local leadership, elevating funding and support for grassroots initiatives, centering peacebuilding and local perspectives, and embracing learning from local experiences. Drawing on personal experiences and advocacy for mental health and resilience among peacebuilders, the author highlights the importance of amplifying support for the mental well-being of local peacebuilders. Ultimately, the Peace Starts Here campaign champions the role of local peacebuilders as architects of enduring global harmony, emphasizing that peace begins within communities and hearts.
Introduction
In a world frequently overshadowed by conflicts, catastrophic political and economic challenges, and climate and health crises, the pursuit of peace stands as an imperative collective responsibility. Recognizing that peace is a dynamic, transformative process requiring concerted efforts from individuals, communities, organizations, and nations, ten (10) local peacebuilders from diverse backgrounds and experiences, representing nearly ten (10) countries across the globe, came together to co-create a groundbreaking campaign for ten (10) months that aims to catalyze changes in the attitudes and behaviors within the peacebuilding sector. This global peacebuilding campaign emerged from discussions at the Peace Exchange event in Beirut, Lebanon, in August 2018, where a group of local peacebuilders convened and sought innovative ways to address conflict in their communities and establish sustainable peace.
In 2022, after securing the funding for the campaign’s first phase, a call was announced that attracted 700 applications from local peacebuilders worldwide. I was one of the selected co-creators to co-create a campaign facilitated by InsightPact and Neo, backed by Peace Direct, and supported by our generous funders in 2023. The Peace Starts Here campaign contributes to a larger movement prioritizing inclusive, sustainable, and participatory approaches to conflict resolution. It fosters connection, collaboration, co-creation, and a call to action, promoting a sense of solidarity and adaptability across diverse contexts. The campaign is grounded in the co-creators’ stories, strategies, and successes to inspire fellow peacebuilders to take action within various spheres of influence. The vision driving the campaign is one where peacebuilding is locally led, globally recognized, supported, and valued.
Recognizing that peace thrives when local efforts receive robust backing, the campaign emphasizes that peacebuilding is not solely about preventing war and tackling challenges; it is an active process embedded in making peace a way of life. Local peacebuilders, deeply embedded in their communities, possess unique insights enabling them to identify and prevent conflicts at their core through active participation in decision-making processes.
Peacebuilder’s Manifesto
At the heart of this movement lies our Peacebuilders’ Manifesto, which I encapsulated in the acronym PEACE, outlining five key ideas:
P – prioritize local leadership in peacebuilding
Empowering and elevating the voices of local peacebuilders by making space for them to lead. They possess an intimate understanding of their communities, cultures, and conflicts. By providing them with the platform and autonomy to lead, we pave the way for contextually relevant solutions and sustainable peace initiatives.
E – elevate funding for peacebuilding initiatives
Funding more peacebuilding efforts catalyzes transformation. Increasing investment in peacebuilding efforts, dismantling barriers, and obstructing the funding flow toward grassroots initiatives can empower affected communities to drive positive change.
A – amplify support for local peacebuilders
Supporting and strengthening local peacebuilders can lead to successful peacebuilding initiatives. It is imperative to strengthen mental well-being and resilience and provide the necessary tools, skills, wellness training, and psychosocial support to foster resilient, committed, and empowered peacebuilders working to drive impactful transformation in their respective communities. By doing so, it can lead to improved relationships and engagement with policymakers, funders, and donors who will magnify their influence.
C – center peacebuilding around local people
Investing in human-centered, collaborative approaches that empower and involve local peacebuilders can shift the power from traditional global actors to the active participation of those intimately connected to affected regions.
E – embrace learning from local perspectives
Listening to their stories, understanding their challenges, and learning from their successes and failures offer profound insights. Embracing these perspectives enriches the global understanding of conflict dynamics and informs more nuanced, culturally sensitive approaches to peacebuilding.
Among these five pillars, I resonate deeply with the third—”Amplify Support for Local Peacebuilders”—which aligns seamlessly with my background, experience, and advocacy on mental health and resilience among peacebuilders. This journey began in 2016 when a pivotal moment in my life led me to explore the depths of mental health while journeying with a loved one with suicidal tendencies. Since the inception of the Women Empowered to Act for Dialogue and Peace in 2018, I have been at the forefront of leading listening and dialogue sessions among internally displaced persons (IDPs) and fellow peacebuilders in Mindanao, Philippines. I am not immune to stress, anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic syndrome while constantly dealing with people who have experienced trauma, working in conflict-affected areas, and handling toxic relationships. These experiences have been particularly impactful when facing significant challenges such as political unrest, conflicts, climate change, natural disasters, and the post-pandemic dilemma.In 2021-2022, through the Peace to Peacebuilders (P2P): Strengthening Peacebuilder’s Resiliency in Crises Situation, born at the Salzburg Global’s Asia Peace Innovators Forum in partnership with The Nippon Foundation, I had the opportunity to engage with fellow alumni of the UN-Mandated University for Peace and peacebuilders from Asia delving into how peace practitioners can better cope with crises. These in-person meetings discussed critical issues of mental health at both personal and professional levels. Participants expressed the urgent need to normalize discussions on mental health and tailor a peacebuilder-friendly approach to address the challenges confronting fellow peacebuilders. Mental health issues not only hinder the development of effective peacebuilding programs, especially in conflict areas, but also impact the mental well-being of peacebuilders. Recognizing their unique challenges and addressing them is crucial for the success of their work. Ultimately, prioritizing the mental well-being and resilience of local peacebuilders is essential for sustainable peacebuilding efforts.
Strengthening the Movement: A Year of Amplifying Local Peacebuilders
Since our Peace Starts Here (PSH) event in Bogotá, Colombia, in December 2023, we have made significant strides in amplifying the voices of local peacebuilders. In August 2024, we launched The Real Stories of Peace online, followed by an in-person exhibit in London, UK, in November 2024. This powerful collection shares true stories of individuals who embody and foster peace in their communities, serving as a source of inspiration and strengthening our collective commitment to global peace.
To mark the first year of our campaign, we launched the PSH comic in January 2025, created by co-creator Diana Ishaqat from Jordan. This comic illustrates the evolution of our campaign—from weekly meetings to the lived realities of its co-creators working in their communities. It also amplifies the voices of fellow local peacebuilders, featured in various events attended by co-creators and supported by our partners in peacebuilding.
In February 2025, we introduced the invitational PSH Microgrant to support local organizations that often struggle to access funding and learning opportunities. This initiative not only provides financial support but also fosters a safe space and a strong peer-to-peer support network, enabling grassroots peacebuilders to drive meaningful change and become an integral part of the Peace Starts Here campaign.
This coming October 2025, the PSH co-creators will gather in Nairobi, Kenya, for the first-ever Peace Connect event—a culmination of this year’s campaign. But this is not the end. Our commitment to amplifying local voices and fostering peace remains steadfast. Together with those who believe in this movement, we will continue our work in our respective communities, institutions, and organizations—because peace is not just a goal but a continuous journey.
Conclusion
The Peace Starts Here campaign communicates a powerful message: peace is an ongoing journey that begins with local peacebuilders and their efforts. Embracing the Peace Starts Here manifesto signifies a paradigm shift toward valuing and harnessing the potential of local peacebuilders as catalysts for enduring global harmony. The campaign calls on individuals to become architects of peace, united in their commitment to fostering understanding, compassion, and cooperation. It asserts that peace starts within the hearts, hopes, and handiwork of local peacebuilders, illuminating the path toward shaping a world where harmony prevails—one community at a time.
AUTHOR’S BIO
Jamila–Aisha P. Sanguila is a local peacebuilder and the founder of Women Empowered to Act (WE Act) for Dialogue and Peace in Mindanao, Philippines. Specializing in women, peace, and security, she has worked extensively in conflict–affected regions, promoting gender–inclusive peacebuilding, advocating against violent extremism, and enhancing mental health and resilience among peacebuilders. She holds a master’s degree in Gender and Peacebuilding from the UN–Mandated University for Peace, a fellow of Salzburg Global sponsored by The Nippon Foundation, and a fellow of Beyond Borders Scotland. Jamila is also a co–creator of the Peace Starts Here campaign, which advocates for locally–led peacebuilding efforts worldwide.
