Global Peace Women and the Global Peace Foundation launched a new campaign, Women and Families in Peacebuilding: Catalysts for Transformative Change, to spotlight inspiring women from their networks who have shown exceptional dedication to peacebuilding, service, and community transformation.

Emphasizing the idea that “peace begins in the home,” the initiative highlights the vital role women and families play in creating lasting peace through compassion, education, and intergenerational values. These women—mothers, educators, faith leaders, and community builders—are recognized for their grassroots efforts in reconciliation, advocacy, and healing after conflict. Their stories aim to motivate others to embrace peacebuilding roles in their own communities.

Read their encouraging stories:

A GPW Leadership Academy graduate launched a mental health initiative in Ruiru, Kenya, with support from GPW’s Global Women Dream grant. Running from July to December 2024, the project offered training, counseling, and community activities to help women manage stress, anxiety, and trauma, empowering them to support both their families and communities. Read

In Mkovur Zema, Benue State, Nigeria, a Global Peace Women Nigeria project empowered women, especially widows, through sustainable livelihoods and nutrition-focused training. The initiative equipped 20 widows with leadership skills, economic tools, and support to rebuild their lives and strengthen their families. The project fostered self-reliance, unity, and community development. Read

Disasters do more than destroy homes—they upend lives and leave families struggling to rebuild. In 2023, Cyclone Freddy devastated Mtauchira Village in Chiradzulu district, killing 18 people and displacing 59 families. With the village rendered uninhabitable, residents were forced into camps. For these displaced families, recovery goes beyond emergency aid—it’s about regaining dignity, livelihoods, and a sense of belonging. The Family Matters Assistance Project is stepping in to help. Read

In Tanzania’s Mtwara region, the Familia Moja Initiatives: Amplifying Change for Sustainable Peace project is strengthening families as the foundation of lasting peace. Recognizing that peace starts at home, the project empowered vulnerable families to become agents of change. The initiative tackled issues like conflict and gender-based violence by helping families lead the way toward stronger, more peaceful communities. Read

In Hayin Dan Mani, Kaduna, a transformation is taking place. Thirty single mothers, once facing economic hardship and social stigma, are now thriving as business owners and community leaders. The Empowering Single Mothers through Craftsmanship and Entrepreneurship project has provided these women with income-generating skills, confidence, and renewed leadership in their families and communities. Read

In Malawi’s Machinga district, women are driving community change through Ndife Amodzi (“We Are One”), a peacebuilding and empowerment initiative that equips women with skills in entrepreneurship, sustainable farming, and civic leadership, promoting strong families as the foundation of peaceful societies. Read

Launched in 2022, Project Saksham promotes moral values and leadership in youth through values-based education. The program encourages peaceful mindsets and strong character to build harmony within families and communities. By January 2025, the project had reached 11 schools in Kathmandu District, engaging 268 students, 20 volunteers, and 11 teachers in interactive workshops focused on leadership, teamwork, and service. Read

In Tanzania’s Rufiji District, a young woman launched the Empower Women with Disabilities through Economic Generation project from July to December 2024. The initiative aimed to break the barriers of economic marginalization and social exclusion faced by women with disabilities by providing 40 women with entrepreneurial skills, seed capital, and tools to improve their livelihoods. Read

This compilation of stories is adapted from stories featured on the Global Peace Foundation website. The Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, that promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God. GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peacebuilding models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is the founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation.

“As faith has led in the discovery of the principles and values of the vision of One Family Under God, family is where we translate them into relationships. The family is sacred – the most basic human social unit where life begins and is nurtured, and where we form our primary relationships that define how we relate to ourselves and the world.”

Dr. Junsook Moon
Global Peace Convention, 2023

In the face of rapid urbanization, globalization, and the disintegration of traditional structures, families continue to play a fundamental role in nurturing moral and social growth. The African Renaissance Initiative, unveiled during the Global Peace Leadership Conference (GPLC) in Nairobi in June 2024, envisions a future where Africa’s rich cultural heritage serves as the foundation to drive a spiritual renewal that can serve as a model for the world.

The Family Track at the conference underscored the crucial role that families play in fostering ethical leadership, social cohesion, and peace. Faith leaders were recognized as essential partners in supporting parents in their critical roles in values education. Acknowledging this critical function, Global Peace Women (GPW) worked in collaboration with Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Kenya and other partners to launch The Parents’ Guide to Values Education in the Home Curriculum. This initiative aims to tackle the pressing moral and ethical challenges that children face while growing up in vulnerable environments.

Rooted in the values of Ubuntu, the curriculum highlights principles such as respect, compassion, responsibility, and integrity, which are core to African identity and values. It emphasizes the family as the foundational unit of society, where faith, culture, and tradition merge to shape character and build resilience. The guide provides practical tools for parents, caregivers, and faith leaders to initiate values-based education at home, including activities designed to support children’s moral, emotional, and social development.

This groundbreaking manual has been refined through two extensive review workshops held in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2024 and January 2025. These workshops brought together faith leaders from Christian, Muslim, and Hindu communities, along with other curriculum developers, all of whom shared a commitment to value education as a tool to strengthen Kenyan families.

The curriculum draws on the strength of faith communities to address modern parenting challenges, such as absent parents, digital distractions, and the diminishing of cultural traditions. Encouraging the active involvement of both parents and extended family members seeks to restore the bonds that form the foundation of healthy, values-based societies.

More than just a manual, this guidebook represents a movement—a united effort to equip future generations with the moral and ethical foundations necessary for Africa’s transformation. By fostering collaboration and shared values, this initiative ensures that children will grow into individuals who embrace the principles of Ubuntu: collective responsibility, mutual care, and a belief in a common destiny.

Through this journey, the home becomes more than just a living space; it transforms into a learning environment where parents and caregivers are the first educators. The lessons of character and leadership imparted within these homes will shape Africa’s leaders of tomorrow. With this curriculum, Africa moves closer to realizing its renaissance—a continent where heritage and hope come together to build a prosperous and ethical future.

The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God. GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peacebuilding models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is the founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation.

“From basic social connections, civic duty, business and enterprise, and governance – everything becomes an extension of the peace that begins in the home. Thus, the home is the first, most natural place to begin our work to realize this dream of peace and mutual prosperity.”

Dr. Junsook Moon
Global Peace Leadership Conference Africa 2024

In recent months, the Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Nigeria, in partnership with Global Peace Women (GPW) Nigeria and local organizations, has spearheaded several significant initiatives aimed at fostering peace, empowering women, and enhancing community cohesion across Kaduna State. These events emphasize the crucial role of women as peacebuilders, leaders, and agents of change, particularly within the family unit. The workshops and programs have addressed themes of nonviolent communication, economic empowerment, and family-focused peace advocacy, with the overarching goal of nurturing peaceful, resilient communities.

1. Nonviolent Communication and Leadership Skills for Women and Youth

In September 2024, GPF Nigeria was a main partner in organizing a two-day capacity-building workshop for women and youth leaders in the Hayin Banki community. The workshop, themed “Nonviolent Communication and Leadership Skills,” sought to equip participants with essential tools for conflict resolution and responsible leadership. This initiative aligned with the core mantra of GPW Nigeria, “Peace Begins in the Home,” encouraging participants to adopt nonviolent communication as a strategy for resolving disputes and fostering peace within families and communities.

Speakers delivered inspiring talks on the pivotal role women play in peacebuilding, building strong family foundations, instilling integrity in children, and prioritizing self-care.

Participants applied the lessons on nonviolent communication during the workshop itself. One woman successfully de-escalated a potential altercation between local youth, using the techniques she had learned. This demonstrated the immediate applicability of the skills being taught and the transformative impact they had on individuals and their communities.

The event concluded with a renewed sense of purpose among women leaders in the community, who left committed to implementing the principles of peacebuilding within their homes and local environments.

2. Economic Empowerment for Women with Disabilities

In October 2024, GPF Nigeria and GPW Nigeria organized a groundbreaking event aimed at empowering women with disabilities in Kaduna State. Held at Arewa House, the economic empowerment program provided over 90 women with disabilities from diverse backgrounds the tools to become more financially independent. The initiative focused on financial literacy, small business resources, and combating societal stigmatization. The goal was to support these women in overcoming barriers to economic participation and create opportunities for self-reliance.

The country director of GPF Nigeria opened the event by emphasizing the importance of empowering women with disabilities, stating that such empowerment was essential for achieving independence and dignity. Speakers highlighted the theme of peacebuilding, urging the women to use their voices against violence and contribute to fostering peaceful communities.

The impact of the program was evident in the heartfelt testimonies of participants. Women expressed their gratitude for the tangible support they received, which they believed would improve their livelihoods. A visually impaired participant was especially thankful for both the financial aid and the business knowledge imparted, which would help her transition from begging to running a small business.

This initiative focused on immediate empowerment and called for long-term structural changes to support people with disabilities. GPF Nigeria representatives urged the government and civil society organizations to prioritize the needs of this marginalized group, combat dehumanization, and foster inclusive environments where everyone could thrive.

3. Empowering Families for Community Peace Advocacy

Another key event gathered over 120 women from various ethnic and religious backgrounds gathered at the Epitome Hotel Event Centre in Barnawa, Kaduna. This one-day event, organized by GPW Nigeria in collaboration with GPF Nigeria, was titled “Empowering Families for Community Peace Advocacy” and focused on strengthening families as the foundation for peaceful communities.

The program reinforced the idea that peace begins in the home, a theme central to GPW Nigeria’s mission. Distinguished speakers emphasized the importance of women’s leadership in peace advocacy, urging women to take up their roles as peacebuilders and active participants in creating harmonious homes that would, in turn, contribute to societal peace.

The event also included practical workshops where participants developed action plans to continue peace advocacy in their communities. These plans included activities like interfaith visitations, girl-child empowerment initiatives, and peace campaigns in places of worship. The women left the event motivated and committed to carrying the message of peace forward, confident in their ability to nurture peaceful environments both within their families and communities.

Conclusion: A Movement for Lasting Change

Through these initiatives, GPF Nigeria and GPW Nigeria have made significant strides in empowering women to be leaders in peacebuilding and societal development. The capacity-building workshops, economic empowerment programs, and family-focused peace advocacy events all highlight the importance of equipping women with the skills, resources, and support they need to shape more peaceful, inclusive, and resilient communities.

The collaborations between these organizations and local groups serve as powerful examples of how grassroots movements can foster meaningful, sustainable change. By investing in women and promoting nonviolent communication, economic empowerment, and family cohesion, GPF Nigeria and GPW Nigeria are not only addressing immediate challenges but also contributing to long-term peacebuilding efforts in Kaduna State and beyond.

These initiatives display a broader movement to promote peace, inclusivity, and resilience across Nigeria. As more women take on leadership roles and advocate for peaceful, empowered communities, the vision of a more peaceful and prosperous society becomes increasingly achievable.

The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God. GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peacebuilding models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is the founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation. Read more about GPF’s work with Families and Women in Peacebuilding.

A team of women navigated rugged rural terrain to bring food and hygiene kits to underprivileged families in the Philippines. A heart of service is at the core of Global Peace Women’s (GPW) mission to empower women as leaders in their homes and communities. With the belief that all people are members of One Family under God, GPW endeavors to uplift families, envisioning a future where every individual thrives in a society rooted in compassion.

In a heartwarming display of unity and compassion, Global Peace Women (GPW) Philippines embarked on a transformative journey to empower families and youth in Barangay Tinucan, Tanay Rizal. Under the leadership of Program Coordinator Ana Marie S. Mira, GPW Philippines Country Coordinator, the Women Empowerment Program orchestrated a remarkable initiative titled “Let the light of Compassion Keep on Shining through Giving and Sharing.” On January 29, 2024, this collaborative effort unfolded, illuminating the lives of thirty less privileged families nestled in the remote corners of Tanay.

Navigating through rugged terrain, crossing three rivers, and overcoming logistical challenges, the team embarked on their mission with unwavering determination. Upon reaching their destination, they engaged in heartfelt discussions with mothers about the significance of proper hygiene as a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. Amidst smiles and immense gratitude, the families received a ray of hope through bags of groceries containing essential items such as rice, canned goods, noodles, coffee, cookies, and chips. Additionally, hygiene kits and school supplies were distributed, sparking excitement among the young students and instilling a renewed zeal for education.

The project was not merely about material gifts but embodied the essence of GPW’s values, principles, and approach. It exemplified the organization’s commitment to fostering collaborative endeavors that empower families and youth, envisioning a future where every individual thrives in a society rooted in compassion and solidarity.

GPW is a partner of the Global Peace Foundation that supports the advancement of the vision of ‘One Family under God’ by engaging women in societal leadership.

Through practical support and empowering discussions, the project reinforced the belief in the family as the primary institution for nurturing love, virtue, and resilience. By extending a helping hand to those in need, the project also cultivated a culture of service within the community, laying the foundation for sustainable peacebuilding efforts.

Reflecting on the project’s success, Ana Marie S. Mira emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships and expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of their partner organizations.

The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God.  GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peacebuilding models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is the founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation.

The GPF Chairwoman Dr. Junsook Moon’s speech was delivered in her stead by the Global Peace Women International President, Ms. Hanako Taura.

In 2023, the bi-annual Global Peace Convention was held as a series of interactive events, forums, and programs under the theme, “One Family Under God: Vision for National Transformation and a Civilization of Peace.” Unlike previous Conventions, the program’s concurrent sessions were held in an hybrid online and in-person format, which allowed for wider global engagement over a six-week period spanning from November 1 to December 14, 2023. The culminating events of the Convention were held in Manila, Philippines from December 10-14, 2023.

Find a transcript of Dr. Junsook Moon’s speech below. 

Congratulations. We have accomplished a lot during this convention. Over the last month, guided by the theme “One Family under God: A Vision for National Transformation and A Civilization of Peace,” we envisioned how we will transform our nations and regions – our families and our consciousness – to build an era of peace.

In this beautiful nation of the Philippines, we are affirming that just as you have made a nation of a thousand islands – beneath the differences of our diverse cultures, languages, faiths and backgrounds – we are all one family, connected by a common spiritual origin, our shared humanity and a mutual commitment to a vision of peace and prosperity for all.

We opened the convention in November, right after Dia De Los Santos, when you traveled many miles to your hometowns to honor your ancestors. And we are closing not long before Christmas, when your family members come home from around the world, taking time to invest in faith and family.

Each of our cultures and faiths have similar traditions that acknowledge the centrality and sanctity of family, which is what I want to speak with you about today.

One family Under God: Faith, Family and Service

As my husband, Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, noted this morning, we stand at a turning point. The vision of One Family Under God is inspiring a global movement for peace, asking us to re-envision how we relate, organize, do business and transform nations. The infrastructure for lasting peace starts in our hearts and in our families. Therefore, it is imperative that we open the way for more women and families to sit at the peacebuilding table.

Recognizing this, we founded Global Peace Women in 2011. Our work has helped women embrace and contribute their unique capabilities to cultivate peace at home and in their communities, nations and world, and recognize the family as a foundational element in peacebuilding.

Guiding our efforts has been Global Peace Foundation’s values-based approach to peacebuilding that engages faith, family and service.

Faith traditions have articulated universal principles and shared values that undergird peace. By faith humanity has drawn closer to the source of truth and goodness, the force of human progress, the origin of our inalienable rights and freedoms, and our immutable value, our creator, God, and the enduring aspiration of global peace and prosperity. Therefore, it behooves us to engage people and communities of faith in this ongoing pursuit for peace.

As faith has led in the discovery of the principles and values of the vision of One Family Under God, family is where we translate them into relationships. The family is sacred – the most basic human social unit where life begins and is nurtured, and where we form our primary relationships that define how we relate to ourselves and the world.

And in service, we affirm our interconnectedness as one family and our capacity to look beyond personal interests and challenges to live for a greater good. It is the starting point of relationships of trust and mutuality. Furthermore, service empowers our agency, the power of the human spirit to change our reality through affirming peace and substantially expressing true love.

Faith, family and service connect us to the fundamentals of peace – principles and values, relationships, starting from the family, and ultimately the origin of this vision, that which holds this vision together, God, our Creator.

Peacebuilding and the Family Imperative  

The state of our world today could draw dark clouds of fear and hopelessness. However, I found that no tempest can quell the spark of peace that burns in the hearth of the home, steady and ready to light the way. “Peace begins in the home,” coined in the formative stages of Global Peace Women, reminds us of this elementary place of peacebuilding – the family.

The family is a deeply personal, first-hand experience of peace. Investing in our children is investing in the future good of humanity, a very real affirmation of the infinite value and unlimited potential that resides in each person. Moreover, the extended family connects three generations: past, present and future, shedding light on what is most important our lives. At the end of the day, beyond accolades, wealth and titles, what remains are the people we have raised, the relationships and love that we have cultivated, and the legacy of good that we leave.

A family that pursues the dream of One Family Under God, puts the greater good, a shared good, first. This common ground,forms a foundation for men and women to build and grow together, not in competition but in complementarity. Like in marriage where a husband and wife commit to each other to form a family, bring new life into the world, and raise children who can become virtuous citizens who carry on the quest for global peace through generations – their differences become the most important aspects of their partnership.

Men and women were designed beautifully different. We need each other to see the whole picture of peace: sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers. We can uplift both men and women, honoring their innate God-given value and empowering each to contribute their unique and complimentary gifts to a greater good.

Women, as mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, we touch all lives. We are central to peace, in the family and world. Our empowerment starts, not with skills but with character, starting from our service-mindedness. We can be agents of peace when we aspire for big dreams – the biggest dream being the aspiration of One Family under God, starting in our families.

Just as the peacebuilding work of Global Peace Foundation within communities and nations is guided by universal principles and shared values, so too are relationships that engender peace at home. Our families need faith and service-mindedness if we are to raise true peacebuilders who will build communities, institutions, industries, societies and nations of a world of peace for all.

Family and National Transformation

Let me draw on a real example. My husband has advanced models of national transformation throughout the world – in Paraguay and on the Korean peninsula. He always starts with a vision which serves as a nexus to strengthen social cohesion, build consensus around shared values and elevate the moral and innovative leadership of the people. This lays the foundation for good governance and transparency, which is necessary for sustainable and equitable economic development.

Last year, Action for Korea United launched a three-year campaign to raise 10 million Korean Dreamers who pursue the Korean Dream, a vision of a free and unified Korean that can serve as a beacon of peacebuilding for the world. The Korean Dream is grounded on the ethic of hongik ingan, that calls the Korean people to live to benefit all humanity.

A crucial part of this endeavor is strengthening the Korean family, which has been a stronghold for Hongik Ingan, preserved in traditions and virtues handed down through generations. One such example is the special ceremony for a child’s first year birthday, dol. The baby chooses three objects that signify how they will contribute to humanity. For example, a brush means they will bring wisdom to the world, a rope means they will have a long life to do good, rice means they will bring prosperity, a book means they will seek truth to enlighten the world. This beautiful tradition calls a child, even from age one, to nobly live in service to humanity.

However, the pursuit of material development and prosperity has weakened the family and subsequently the social fabric of South Korea. Elderly are left to fend for themselves, the birth rate is one of the lowest in the world, while the suicide rate ranks in the top five. Youth are afraid to get married because of high cost of living and difficulties in finding and building lasting relationships of trust between men and women.

This is a far cry for the Korean extended family model of the past, where children were a blessing and every family member knew they had a special and important place. It was not perfect, but it honored principles and virtues that are important foundations for national transformation.

Korea’s quest for peaceful reunification based on the Korean Dream holds important lessons for peacebuilding and self-determination, particularly for emerging countries in the Global South. There are timeless jewels in our cultures that we must fuse in the foundations of national development. As we advance models of national transformation and pursue a civilization of peace –  we must recognize that it cannot happen without our families and without God. 

Launching a Movement of Service-Minded Youth for Global Peace

Today we can see the labors of love from such families, as we launch a groundbreaking initiative – the Global Peace Corps.  

A generation of youth is spearheading this global effort to champion the vision of One Family under God. You are the people power that will set a high standard of selfless service, peacebuilders who will redefine the landscape of our world. You have the potential to tackle the most critical issues of our time: break down barriers, uplift, protect and engage every person, men and women so they can actively participate in peacebuilding, and inspire and someday even birth and raise subsequent generations of peacebuilders. From the bottom up and top down you are setting in motion the mechanisms for peacebuilding. I’m sure your parents are very proud.

Closing

There is so much hope. Dr. Moon always reminds us, “Dreamers are the ones who change the world.” And this room is full of dreamers from around the world, from all generations, and coming as families. Let’s commit to this sea change, from the Philippine Islands to the world, bringing this vision of peace, the vision of One Family Under God into reality, starting in our homes.

May God bless you and your families.      

Thank you very much.

Service plays a critical role in uplifting the global ethic. How one acts and serves can not only transform the individual and those directly being served but also has the power to transform the community, nations, regions, and world to better humanity and bring more sustainable solutions for this 21st century.

In an article written for the Global Peace Foundation, a graduate of the Global Peace Women’s Leadership Academy described the powerful individual development one can achieve through a life of living for the sake of others.

In life, we all face different challenges and stressful situations with all that goes on in the world around us. The person next to you on the bus, on the street, or in the park could be straining, unable to share about the trials they face for fear of being harshly judged. Kindness isn’t just essential to help others, it is also vital to our own wellbeing. 

When we are kind, we are compassionate, generous, considerate, and empathetic towards others. We aspire to help others through actions like volunteering, engaging in a worthy cause, or just being there to support those who need us in our communities. This helps all of us to have a sense of belonging.

That is why a group called “Solidarity Hands” is helping make a difference in Paraguay. Solidarity Hands is a collaborative initiative that engages women from Global Peace Women and Global Peace Foundation in monthly volunteer service projects that provide support to vulnerable women, families, and communities in Paraguay. Every month they gather women to host a variety of service efforts: from donations for schools and orphanages, clothing drives and fundraisers, hosting community kitchens, and family visitations, to delivering supplies like food, clothes, and household appliances.

The group is made up of about ten women volunteers who contribute their own resources and raise funds for groceries, clothes, sheets, and blankets for those in need.

Such acts of kindness remind us all that we are indeed “One Family under God.”

Global Peace Women, an affiliate of Global Peace Foundation, advocates for the essential role of women as leaders in peacebuilding around the world. A GPW representative stated, “We are motivated by people who are kind and generous to others. They embody our spirit of ‘Living for the Greater Good.’ Other ways that we recommend of showing kindness to others include checking in with our neighbors, relatives, and the less fortunate members of our communities, listening empathetically, mentoring others, and engaging in charity work.’

What are you doing to show kindness today?

The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God.  GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peacebuilding models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is the founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation.

Global Peace Women Plenary 2021
Keynote Address
Dr. Junsook Moon
August 13, 2021

Ladies and gentlemen joining us from around the world,

Greetings! Welcome to the Plenary of the Women’s Leadership Track at the 2021 Virtual Global Peace Convention on Moral and Innovative Leadership in Peacebuilding for Our Changing World.

Hon. Samaniego, thank you for your kind words of support. I also want to extend my gratitude towards our other distinguished speakers: H.E. Dr. Hajiya, Amina Namadi Sambo, Dr. Nona Ricafort, and Dr. Eva Latham, who are not only incredible women leaders, but also active peace builders in their communities and around the world. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us today. I am so glad that we can come together virtually and continue working towards our mission of peace and development through service minded women leadership.

I miss seeing your faces and sharing the irreplaceable human connection that comes when meeting in person. Although the global pandemic has made it difficult for us to gather, I am grateful that the wonders of technology have enabled us to meet together today, even from far away.

Our theme for the Women’s Leadership track is Service-minded Women Advancing Peace in the Home and World During Unprecedented Times.

The pandemic is the first of its kind in our lifetimes. The world as we know it has been altered, perhaps irrevocably.

Undoubtedly, each and every one of us has been through loss and change. Some of us have lost loved ones. Most of us have had to stay distant from people we long to see in person, and confront the stresses of a new reality, including job loss, remote work, and markedly altered school and home life.

As we faced these emerging challenges, we have had to wrestle with how to find meaning in the sacrifices and turmoil around us. We have had to transform crisis into opportunity and turn despair into hope.

The question we must ask ourselves is, “How can we, as women, as leaders, contribute to opening a path to a brighter future?”

The pandemic has revealed how the well-being of family fundamentally affects the health and wellness of all people. What does your family mean to you? Family is precious. When times are good, it is where we thrive and share happiness with loved ones. When times are hard, our families can be the place where we offer support and draw strength from each other. Through every season of life, I believe, the family can be an enduring source of gratitude, service, and love.

A crucial ingredient sustaining successful families is gratitude. Family means that we will always be connected regardless of our differences in personalities, talents, and interests. Having a family to turn to when things are tough means that we are never truly alone. When we appreciate and express gratitude for our family, we strengthen relationships that endure through all the ups and downs of life.

Service is another key element that families offer. Choosing to serve provides comfort and healing while uplifting ourselves and others. When times are especially difficult, we rely most on the physical, spiritual, and emotional care that we receive from family members.

Lastly, the most defining characteristic of family is deep, intimate, and unconditional love. When children first enter this world, they completely rely on the love and sacrifice of their parents. Even as adults, we realize that family provides the deep-seated love and support that helps us to overcome life’s greatest difficulties. The unconditional love in our families equips us to love others outside of the home. Over the past year, women have especially stepped forward to selflessly love and care for their families and communities. They are transformative teachers of peace both in the family and in society.

During the pandemic, Global Peace Women around the world have turned their focus to supporting women and families as the wellspring of gratitude, service, and love. In 16 nations, Global Peace Women have organized webinars, workshops, hotlines and public broadcasts to provide expert advice, counseling, livelihood training, and small group support for the well-being of families. We also met basic needs – providing meals, diapers, clothes, and sanitation products. These programs focused on various dimensions of family health including spiritual, emotional, and physical wellness. We are proud of our women leaders who continue to give hope and practical support. Their efforts have helped families create stable, loving environments even in the midst of these uncertain times.

Ladies and gentlemen, every parent wants to create a happy, healthy, and peaceful family that cultivates gratitude, serves others and offers unconditional love. Every family member has an irreplaceable role to play in creating such a family.

In my family, my husband and I play different, but equally important roles. My family leans on my husband, Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon, to cultivate self-discipline and strive for a high standard of excellence. He challenges all of us to grow past our own perceived limits and to accomplish so much more than we thought we could. He provides spiritual leadership for our family through his unabated dedication to building One Family under God. On the other hand, I am the one who observes how each of our children is doing. My children feel comfortable to tell me the details of their challenges and struggles. I usually know even before they tell me. At those times, I do my best to give support and encouragement to help my children take daily steps towards growing themselves, investing in their families and contributing to the world. Just as a father and mother offer complementary strengths in the family, I believe men and women have unique and important contributions to make both in the home and in society.

If my husband is the North Star that shows the ship where to go, perhaps I am the wind that fills the ship’s sails. If we take one step in the right direction every day, just as the winds blows the ship to safety through uncharted waters, I know that we can reach brighter shores together.

I invite you to find ways through which we can reach for deeper reserves of gratitude, service, and unconditional love in our daily lives. Global Peace Women strives to develop education, projects and initiatives that support women so we can nourish ourselves, our families, communities and the world with these gifts. 

The Family Volunteers for Peace initiative is yielding moving examples of women doing exactly this. In Nigeria, the Philippines, Uganda, and the United States, mothers have encouraged their families to serve. They have shared stories of how they have grown closer through volunteering together. Their families are also gaining important tools: problem-solving, character development, and skills for building healthy relationships to further peace in their homes and communities.  What beautiful examples of women leaders cultivating service-minded families who are rising above our current challenges.

Earlier this year, we hosted a webinar series entitled, “Women-led peacebuilding from the home to society.” The webinars sought to uplift and empower women who are cultivating seeds of peace in their homes and the world. Participants from around the world, representing countries from Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe joined in engaging  conversations on teaching human rights in the family, bridging generations through music, practicing holistic health, cultivating service, and establishing family traditions to build a legacy of peace.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is true that we are living through unprecedented times. It has been profoundly difficult for our families, our societies and our world. But, let us not focus just on the challenges and pain. Let us look outward and find ways to serve together, and in doing so, we can bring healing and hope.

I know that the work of Global Peace Women is needed now, more than ever. We can serve as a platform to support and inspire incredible women leaders like yourselves. Let us work together towards a common vision of a world where every woman, man, child and family can pursue their utmost potential in peace.

Let us celebrate what we have accomplished, and also reflect on the question, “What more can we do?” I am certain that together, with our collective strength of service, heart and care, we will get through these times, and we will create a brighter, greater future.

Let us embark on the next step of this journey to build a peaceful world of One Family under God, one family and one community at a time.

May God bless you and your loved ones.

Thank you very much.

As the world faces the COVID19 pandemic, clearly it has called every one, women and men, people of all faiths, nations, and ages, to come together to innovate new solutions. Recently, the women of Global Peace Women in the Republic of Korea demonstrated the power of civil society.

In South Korea, similar to many other nations, the marketplace has struggled to keep up with the demand for hand sanitizer and masks. Global Peace Women and partner civic groups and citizens made and donated handmade masks, food, and other necessary items.

Global Peace Women, a division of Global Peace Foundation, hoped to ease the anxiety, especially for the elderly population as the number of cases was rapidly increasing in February by crafting and delivering handmade masks to underprivileged families.

Volunteers in Seoul, along with regional branches in Korea, carried out a fundraiser in late February and collected 2 million won (around $1,600 USD). With the funding, GPW staff and volunteers gathered and made 600 disposable masks along with 500 masks gathered by a mask-making company in order to help the city of Daegu, where the confirmed COVID-19 cases are most severe.

“We originally planned to purchase and deliver large amounts of masks with the donations at the time of the campaign, but due to the heightened demand for masks we began planning our own means of production,” said Mihwa Kim, director of GPW Korea.  “We hope that even a little help can provide consolation and encouragement and that this crisis will be overcome as soon as possible.”

The masks were delivered to homes in Daegu. Yeonsook Park, Vice President of the GPW Daegu branch, was touched by the outpouring of support and said, “The best way to repay this help is for the people with the virus to recover and return to their daily lives from isolation as quickly as possible,” she said, adding that she will work as head of a community organization to overcome the disease.

The global impact of COVID-19 has been profound, affecting daily life on large and small scales. However, across the world, volunteers and the kindness of neighbors are demonstrating the best in our humanity. During these challenging times, it is important to remember that even during the most difficult experiences, there are opportunities to be the inspiration and strength that others need to move our world forward.

The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God.  GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peace building models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation.

“The family is the first place where children learn love and respect. Children also learn the lessons of integrity, hard work and responsibility.” —Dr. Junsook Moon

Peace Begins in the Home in 2018

In countries around the world, from Tanzania to Nepal, Korea, and Uganda, tens of thousands are showing their support for a global campaign that has swept all family members into the peacebuilding process that “Peace Begins in the Home.”

Programs implemented by Global Peace Women, the women’s division of Global Peace Foundation, remind parents that one of the most important leadership positions they hold is in their families. This is where they start as change makers in their society. From the family, they can positively impact the emotional and spiritual foundations of each family member. They can cultivate essential virtues like perseverance, dedication to the community, and integrity, and to inspire future generations with the vision to be moral and innovative people who can contribute to their world.

Forums, conferences, campaigns and grassroots projects in 2018 brought the message that peacebuilding starts in the family, then expands to nations and communities around the world.

1. The women’s track, Peace Begins in the Home: Women-led Initiatives for Peace and Development, at the 2018 Global Peace Leadership Conference provided a wide range of approaches and models for comprehensive peacebuilding starting from the home and expanding to the world. Topics such as healthy relationship building, financial capacity building, and women’s participation in the decision-making process were an integral part of the discussion on how women-led initiatives could play a crucial role in bringing sustainable development and peace in societies around the world

2. Campaigns to bring peaceful reunification to the Korean peninsula inspired people from around the world to take part in the Korean Dream by first discovering how to fulfill it within their own families.

3. Global Peace Women’s ongoing campaign, Peace Begins in the Home, is spreading the message of empowerment for family-led peacebuilding in communities around the world.

A World of Peace through God-centered Families

The Family Peace Association celebrated its 1-year anniversary this year. At the December 2 inaugural ceremony last year, Dr. Moon issued a powerful call to strengthen God-centered families, as the cradle of civilizational advance and the cornerstone of God’s ideal of a peaceful world.

The role of God-centered families is central to all positive human development since it brings back the divinity in that sacred institution and aligns it to the original purpose of creation. Without such families, humanity will not have the moral clarity and conviction to take on the challenges of this age and build a brighter future for our children and grandchildren. The course of human society will turn on how well we understand this truth and the choices we make today to act upon it.

The Family Peace Association is working with partners across national, religious, and ethic differences, to support families in cultivating strong family traditions that connect them to God’s vision for humanity, and carrying on important universal principles and values from generation to generation.

The following speech was delivered during the Global Peace Leadership Conference on August 1, 2018 in Kampala, Uganda by Dr. Junsook Moon, chairwoman of Global Peace Women, the women’s division of the Global Peace Foundation.

Peace Begins in the Home: Women-led Initiatives for Peace and Development

Dr. Junsook Moon, Chairwoman of the women’s division of Global Peace Foundation

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good morning, and welcome to the 2018 Global Peace Leadership Conference. This gathering is a historic and timely event for Africa and the world.

In this blessed country endowed with majestic natural beauty, called the Pearl of Africa, it is befitting that we have gathered under the theme, “Peace Begins in the Home: Women-Led Initiatives for Peace and Development.”

I want to thank the President and the government of Uganda for the warm hospitality and for making this convening possible. I am very inspired to be among many great leaders from around the world.

Introduction

Without exception, all of us long for peace in our homes, our nations and our world. Yet, this peace which all of us desire has eluded us for most of human history. Conflicts in the name of religion have killed millions upon millions. Ethnic bloodshed and genocides have plagued our beautiful lands for ages. Daily violence is perpetrated against women and children in every corner of society. We even face the threat of nuclear conflicts between nations, leaving us to question our very survival.

Nonetheless, we still strive to attain peace in our homes and nations. Such desire resides deep in our original DNA, and all of us, at different levels, have experienced the profound and fulfilling effect that peace brings to our soul and to our surroundings.

My husband, Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon, the founder of Global Peace Foundation, emphasizes that true peace can only come about when we recognize that we are all sons and daughters of one Heavenly Father. That is the common basis on which we can transcend the human trappings, whether they are racial, ethnic, national or even religious, which have caused hatred and division.

In support of this vision of One Family under God, Global Peace Women, since its founding in 2011, has been addressing the critical roles that women must play in building peaceful families, communities and nations.

Unique Value and Role of Women

Naturally, women are peace-builders, harmonizers and healers. This is because we are endowed by our Creator with innate qualities of empathy, grace and caring for others. This is most evident in motherhood, when a mother is completely committed to the wellbeing of her child, giving every ounce of her body and soul. With unconditional love, she makes any sacrifice for her child, no matter how great. A mother’s heart to empathize, to forgive and to embrace is driven by divine qualities that are beyond reason and calculus; it is pure love pouring down, effortlessly and eternally.

The father’s role is undoubtedly critical. However, women’s innate nurturing qualities allow them to impress upon her children, especially during all-important formative years, the value of unconditional love, human kindness and life. We, at Global Peace Women, seek to uplift those qualities and recognize that women have the most important responsibility of raising and educating children to become seekers of peace.

While women have assumed various duties beyond the immediate care of their families, we must remind ourselves that our intrinsic value is not determined by professional success or socio-political status. The true value of a woman, which is unique and irreplaceable, resides in the fact that she can bring new life into this world, infuse her children with genuine love, and allow them to experience the dignity and divinity of human life, beginning in the home and expanding into society and the world.

In my own motherhood journey of raising nine children, I became deeply and fundamentally moved by this realization. I must admit, as a young girl growing up in a traditional Confucius household and observing, for instance, my grandfather’s seemingly preferential treatment of my brother, I sometimes felt less important and lacking in some ways. Why was my brother getting more attention, (or more sweet treats than me), I remember wondering. Should I also have been born as a boy?

Yet, over the course of several years and eventually when I became a mother, I came to appreciate woman’s true value as God intended. Along with tremendous joy and inner fulfillment that comes from being a wife and a mother, with my genuine love and devotion, I was able to become the emotional center of my family. It is in this spirit that Global Peace Women initiated the “Peace Begins in the Home” international movement, recognizing home and family as the foundational bedrock to impart these essential values and principles.

Women’s Role and Contribution to Family and Society

Women leaders from around the world participate in the 2018 Global Peace Leadership Conference in Uganda