Celebrating 20 Years of Peacebuilding

Celebrating 20 Years of Peacebuilding

It is now 2020, and the world is still struggling to achieve peace. But, a small yet committed and dedicated group of peacebuilders envisions having just and peaceful communities in Asia-Pacific and beyond. For two decades, the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute (MPI) from Davao City, Mindanao—their island home in the Philippines—has been gathering together peacebuilders from all corners of the globe. MPI does this so that these peacebuilders can become empowered as catalysts, bringing about positive change and social transformation in their communities. Today, MPI stands fast in creating safe spaces for mutual learning and exchange, opening more and more hearts and minds to the possibility of peace in our lifetime throughout the world.

Inaugural Edition
Southeast Asia and the Pacific
South Asia
Video Messages from MPI Facilitators

Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute

A Resource for Peacebuilders in Asia

The Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute (MPI) is an Asian training institute grounded in the Mindanao, Philippines, context that provides a space for people of diverse backgrounds to gather together, share and learn in a safe environment where all viewpoints are encouraged and respected. MPI is a resource for peacebuilders: providing skills, conducting research and building solidarity within the Asia-Pacific Region.
MPI creates a space where peacebuilders meet in mind, heart and spirit to keep abreast of the challenges which the issues of peace and justice present. In a professional and personal way, MPI, through its programs, offers opportunities by which the journey of peace becomes real in the lives of peacebuilders and their communities.
MPI's 2019 Annual Peacebuilding Training Report cover, children running between trees

Learn more about MPI's Annual Peacebuilding Training. Check out our 2019 Annual Peacebuilding Training Report.

MPI Scholar
Please support MPI! Your support helps MPI to give scholarships to those who would otherwise not be able to attend our Annual Peacebuilding Training.
MPI Participants and Community seated in a circle

Vision

Just and peaceful communities in Asia-Pacific.
Shadow people in front of butterfly image

Mission

MPI seeks to deepen commitment to justice and peace; respect for human rights; and dialogue and solidarity among individuals, institutions, and communities.
Holding signs Making Peace Possible

Goal

Individuals, institutions, and communities empowered as catalysts for peace and social transformation.
Facilitator with participants
Education, Training and Building Capacities of Individuals and their Institutions in the Field of Peacebuilding
Working on a map
Refining Learning, Enhancing Knowledge, and Sharing Materials related to Peacebuilding
MPI Participants holding web of yarn
Creating Space and Connecting People from Diverse Sectors to Build a Critical Mass of Peacebuilders to promote Justpeace

One step, two steps, then, I stopped and looked around inside the airport, feeling nervous. Can I do this? Can I manage to travel alone and navigate a foreign country? Can I communicate clearly so that they can understand me? Will I be able to make friends? Will I be able to participate in the training as I had hoped? These were just a few of the questions that ran through my mind during my trip t...

On 13 July 2020, MPI organized its first Myanmar MPI alumni online meeting.  Since the coronavirus pandemic has turned the whole world upside down, MPI has started to virtually reach out to its alumni as a way to reconnect and as a sign of solidarity in these very challenging times. In one of these alumni meetings, in April 2020, the idea was born for MPI to conduct participatory research with its alumni, taking advantage of the vast network of MPI peacebuilders representing different layers and sectors of society around the globe. By en...

Peace, faith, and solidarity are larger than the COVID-19 pandemic. Observing the minimum health protocols and social distancing, Pakigdait Inc.–United Religions Initiative through its Project PeaceConnect by The Asia Foundation (TAF) and in partnership with Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, VSO-Philippine, Nonviolent Peaceforce – Lanao Field Team, and the 2nd Mechanized infantry brigade Philippine army conducted its heartwarming traditional “Duyog Ramadan.“* ...
The experience of being at MPI with other peacemakers from all over the world was very inspiring and very powerful.
Ashwena Apao
Ashwena Apao
Missionary Sisters of St. Columban, Philippines
It was a great opportunity for me to participate in MPI’s 2019 Annual Peacebuilding Training, which really reflected its title of Positive Engagements in Peacebuilding.
Mustafa Ghashim
Mustafa Ghashim
Project Coordinator/Facilitator, DARB, Syria/Turkey
MPI gave us the space and confidence to speak up and freely share our opinion and perception. It made me realize that peacebuilding is a question of attitude and communication we all share irrespective of our background and culture.
Beate Hahn
Beate Hahn
Program Manager Personnel Services South East Asia & Pacific, Bread for the World – Protestant Agency for Diakonia and Development, Germany
The experiential and practical learning methods introduced by the MPI facilitators were overwhelmingly outstanding.
Hegstad Koga
Hegstad Koga
Chief Monitoring and Evaluation, Officer Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs, Solomon Islands
Based on the inputs I received, I was able to conduct workshops for students. My senior colleagues and I are also working to establish a Centre for Peace in our Institution.
Krishnamohan Vijayalakshmi
Krishnamohan Vijayalakshmi
Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Stella Maris College, India
The training did not only raise the concepts for discussions, but also drew from the practical experiences of practitioners from around the region so we could learn and apply them in our context.
Chandara Phann
Chandara Phann
Project Officer, Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e.V.|Forum Civil Peace Service, Cambodia
This experience kept expanding my horizon on how to engage with people based on the dynamics of religion and culture.
Anielle Santoso
Anielle Santoso
Indonesia
MPI has the best trainers who bring their life experiences in peacebuilding and relate their experiences to each session they facilitate.
Juliana Yonzon
Juliana Yonzon
Program Coordinator, Mennonite Central Committee, Nepal

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