CAPE TOWN – The Southern African branch of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) gathered community leaders, educators, and youth representatives in Cape Town last weekend to mark the 11th anniversary of the HWPL World Peace Summit.
The regional commemoration, themed “Citizen-led Institutionalization of Peace in Southern Africa’s Evolving Landscape,” focused on the role of ordinary citizens in promoting peace across the region. Participants discussed how grassroots initiatives can help address issues such as youth unemployment, gender-based violence, and inequality.
Over 280 participants attended the gathering, including government officials, traditional and faith leaders, educators, and civil society representatives. The event featured peace reports, testimonies, and a panel discussion centred on local approaches to peacebuilding.
A key moment was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between HWPL and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, strengthening interfaith collaboration toward conflict resolution and community harmony.
Speakers called for greater investment in youth leadership through the International Peace Youth Group and women’s involvement in peacebuilding under the International Women’s Peace Group. Peace education was also spotlighted as a crucial tool for social transformation.
Mrs Noangelina Debeshe, Principal of Morifi Community High School in Lesotho, said the HWPL peace education curriculum has transformed her school and community. “Since adopting the programme, we’ve seen real change among our students and the people around us. Fights and conflict have stopped,” she said.
The Cape Town gathering built on the global summit recently held in Cheongju, South Korea, which attracted over 800 international leaders, including delegates from Southern Africa.
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