The Johannesburg Branch of the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID) on 24 October on zoom.
SAWID is a national women’s organization that brings together the voices of women from diverse backgrounds across South Africa and reflects their perspectives in national and local decision-making processes.
SAWID’s long-standing commitment to social cohesion and women’s leadership aligns seamlessly with IWPG’s mission to promote peace education globally.
Through this partnership, the two organizations agreed to collaborate on the successful implementation of the Women’s Peace Education (WPE) pilot project, aiming to strengthen women’s leadership in peacebuilding and promote a culture of peace within communities.
The cooperation is also expected to expand into other areas, including Peace Cultural Arts initiatives, school-based peace clubs, and joint efforts in resource mobilization and fundraising to further advance peace education across South Africa.
Together, IWPG and SAWID aim to create sustainable pathways for women’s empowerment and peace advocacy across South Africa
IWPG Johannesburg Branch Director Faith stated,
“We hope this agreement will help South African women become key agents of peace and foster the spread of peace values throughout society. Our collaboration with SAWID will further strengthen the influence of women within their communities.”
Thoko Mpumlwana, Chairperson of SAWID expressed strong support for the partnership, saying,
“We deeply resonate with IWPG’s vision of uniting women around the world to realize peace. This agreement will serve as an important opportunity to amplify the voices of South African women on the international stage.”
Every year, thousands of young people from rural towns and villages across the Eastern Cape journey to larger cities such as Port Elizabeth and East London to pursue higher education. For many, it’s a dream fulfilled, the first in their families to attend university or college, the first to glimpse a future beyond poverty. Yet, beneath the excitement of new beginnings lies a silent and troubling reality.
Many of these students, once grounded by community and family structure, suddenly find themselves navigating unfamiliar environments with newfound independence, and with it, access to financial aid through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). While intended to cover tuition, accommodation, and essential living costs, these funds often become a source of temptation. Without proper guidance or accountability, misuse of NSFAS money has become a growing concern.
9/11/12 1:51:11 PM — Boston, Massachusetts
9/11/12 – Boston University – Cummington Street has become Cummington Mall and a pedestrian promenade..
Photo by Kalman Zabarsky for Boston University Photography
In some cases, students spend funds meant for education on luxuries, entertainment, or lifestyles beyond their means, often trying to fill emotional or social gaps that come with being far from home. The consequences extend far beyond the financial: many find themselves entangled in debt, academic failure, and even moral compromise.
For female students, this struggle can take an even darker turn. Coming from deeply impoverished backgrounds, some young women, driven by the pressure to support their families or maintain dignity among peers, fall prey to relationships with older, wealthier men, trading their safety and worth for financial support. This heartbreaking reality reflects not moral failure, but a crisis of hope and guidance. It shows how poverty, pressure, and lack of mentorship can make vulnerable hearts seek provision in dangerous places.
Education should open doors to purpose, not lead students away from the values that once anchored them. Universities, churches, and communities must work hand in hand to provide mentorship, moral grounding, and financial literacy, helping students use their resources wisely and live with dignity.
True freedom is not found in unmonitored access to money or opportunity, but in discipline, wisdom, and faith. When we seal God’s Word in our hearts, we gain the discernment to make choices that build rather than destroy; to steward blessings instead of squandering them.
As a society, let us support and encourage our students, and pray that their pursuit of education may remain aligned with purpose, that no one may lose themselves in the city lights, and that every opportunity becomes a step toward transforming their families and communities through righteousness and wisdom.
In the heart of Port Elizabeth, a quiet revolution in literacy is taking shape — one story at a time.
The newly crowned Miss South Africa 2025, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, is redefining what it means to wear the crown. With her trademark grace and grounded sense of purpose, she’s turning her reign into a mission of transformation — helping children find their voices through reading, storytelling, and cultural pride.
Her deep understanding of how language shapes identity and opportunity inspired her to create something lasting — a children’s book written entirely in isiXhosa, designed to teach children how to read and count in their home language. “It’s been so beautiful watching children interact and learn from the book,” she says with pride.
While literacy efforts have been underway in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) for many years, few residents are aware of the remarkable organisations driving change on the ground. With more support and visibility, these initiatives could not only strengthen literacy levels but also give isiXhosa writers the platform they deserve.
Here are just a few of the local champions helping to turn the page toward a more literate future:
1. Masinyusane
Based in Port Elizabeth, Masinyusane is a dynamic non-profit dedicated to uplifting disadvantaged communities through education and youth employment. The organisation runs literacy and numeracy programmes in more than 150 schools, building libraries, training youth as reading coaches, and helping thousands of children strengthen their reading and comprehension skills.
Beyond the classroom, Masinyusane also provides scholarships and mentorship for top-performing township learners, while creating jobs for unemployed youth as educators and assistants. By combining literacy development, youth empowerment, and access to education, Masinyusane is breaking cycles of poverty and nurturing a new generation of confident readers, thinkers, and community leaders in the Eastern Cape.
2. Rally to Read
The Rally to Read initiative has been instrumental in improving literacy across Nelson Mandela Bay, thanks to strong partnerships with corporate sponsors such as Isuzu and Ford. Managed by the READ Educational Trust, the programme supports under-resourced schools through a holistic approach — providing curated book collections, teacher training, and ongoing classroom support.
Masinyusane: Empowering Communities with Youth Jobs
Teachers in Rally schools receive in-service training and coaching, ensuring they’re equipped to inspire a love for reading and improve learners’ literacy, language, and comprehension skills. By pairing quality resources with professional development, Rally to Read continues to empower educators and learners alike across the metro.
3. Literacy Association of South Africa
The Literacy Association of South Africa (LITASA) plays a vital role in strengthening the national conversation around reading and literacy. Through annual conferences, provincial seminars, and workshops, it brings together educators, researchers, and practitioners to share best practices and innovative approaches to teaching reading and writing in multilingual contexts.
LITASA also publishes the Reading & Writing Journal, a peer-reviewed academic publication that highlights cutting-edge literacy research and classroom strategies. In the Eastern Cape, its branch hosts workshops and literacy activities in Makhanda and Gqeberha, including Read-Aloud competitions, Teachers’ Book Clubs, and book drives that collect and redistribute pre-loved books to schools and rural communities in need.
If you have books to donate or wish to get involved, reach out to the Eastern Cape branch at ecape@litasa.org.za.
Together, these organisations — alongside inspiring leaders like Qhawekazi Mazaleni — are proving that literacy is more than just the ability to read and write; it’s the foundation of opportunity, imagination, and hope. And in the classrooms and communities of Port Elizabeth, hope is being rewritten — one story at a time.
Bonteheuwel, 18 October 2025 — In a heartfelt celebration of unity, peace, and environmental care, the Bonteheuwel Walking Ladies in collaboration with International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), hosted a meaningful community event at the David Profit Peace Garden in Bonteheuwel.
The event brought together members of the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), the Bonteheuwel Ambassadors, and the Bonteheuwel Neighbourhood Watch — all joining hands in service of their community and environment.
Serving as the chairperson of the Bonteheuwel Peace Committee, Mrs Soraya Salie shared with warmth and pride the story behind the Peace Garden and the joy it has brought to the people of Bonteheuwel. She reflected on its foundations as a space built on love, cooperation, and the belief that peace begins within communities.
The day’s activities included the cleaning and revitalising of the garden, accompanied by the planting of trees generously donated by Cape Gardens Nursery and Just Trees. Each tree symbolised hope, growth, and a lasting commitment to environmental stewardship.
This volunteer-driven initiative saw participants from HWPL, IWPG, and other partner organisations working side by side. Their collective efforts demonstrated the power of unity and compassion in action. Participants expressed gratitude for everyone involved and reflected on the shared responsibility to safeguard the planet — recognising that the well-being of future generations depends on the choices and care invested today.
Importantly, this event also formed part of the Legislate Peace (LP) Campaign by HWPL, expanding its message of peace through practical community involvement and environmental sustainability. The inclusion of this activity under the LP Campaign highlighted the interconnectedness of peace-building, civic responsibility, and climate action.
The event not only strengthened local partnerships but also showcased IWPG’s ongoing commitment to peace-building, sustainability, and women-led community empowerment. By maintaining the Peace Garden and engaging in climate-conscious action, participants reaffirmed the belief that peace and environmental care are deeply intertwined — both essential for a sustainable and harmonious future.
Cape Town, South Africa – October 11, 2025 – The Southern African branch of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) successfully hosted a regional commemoration of the 11th Anniversary of the September 18th HWPL World Peace Summit in Cape Town this past weekend. The event brought together community members, youth leaders, educators, policymakers, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, and the media to reflect on over a decade of peacebuilding and chart pathways for the region’s future.
Group Photo at the 11th Annual Commemoration of the World Peace Summit
Held under the theme “Citizen-led Institutionalization of Peace in Southern Africa’s Evolving Landscape,” the gathering highlighted the urgent need for community-driven approaches to addressing challenges such as youth unemployment, gender-based violence, social unrest, and the lingering legacies of conflict and inequality.
The commemoration built on the global summit held in Cheongju, Republic of Korea, where 800 international leaders gathered, including representatives from Southern Africa. Delegates from South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Botswana joined the discussions in Korea, underscoring the region’s active role in shaping the global peace agenda. Their contributions in the local summit emphasized the state of violence and conflict in the region and the need for Ubuntu, restorative justice, and community solidarity as guiding values for building sustainable peace.
Performance during event
In Cape Town, participants reflected on how to strengthen youth leadership through the International Peace Youth Group, expand women’s participation in conflict resolution via the International Women’s Peace Group, and broaden the reach of peace education across schools and communities. They also advanced the Legislate Peace campaign, calling for peace and human rights to be firmly embedded within national legal systems. Together, these focus areas created a unified framework that places young people, women, education, and legal advocacy at the heart of Southern Africa’s peacebuilding vision.
In an interview, Mrs Noangelina Debeshe, the Principal of Morifi Community High School in Lesotho shared: “Gatherings like these empower educators to take information back to our schools and our country too… The HWPL curriculum has transformed school and working with HWPL has even transformed the village around us. We sometimes, go out to the area around our school and sow the seed. I am telling you now, in the area around the school, fights and conflict has stopped… I wish everyone in their schools can realise, accept and realise the value of peace education, that they can do everything they can to bring about the teaching of HWPL peace education curriculum, for it helps transform students. They [The students] will therefore, become better citizens and the world will be changed.”
Mrs Nonagelina Debeshe and Ms Patsy Daniels during a panel discussion
The Cape Town commemoration concluded with a renewed call for collaboration across borders and sectors, with participants committing to strengthen partnerships in peace education, youth leadership, women’s empowerment, and inclusive dialogue. The event served as both a celebration of 11 years of global peace efforts and a powerful reminder that lasting change begins with citizen action at the grassroots level.
Showcasing Achievements and Future Vision of Cooperation among International Organizations, Governments, and Civil Society for Peace
Cheongju, Republic of Korea — September 18, 2025 — Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international peace NGO based in South Korea, hosted the 11th Anniversary of the September 18th HWPL World Peace Summit on September 18–19 in Cheongju under the theme “Uniting for Peace and Fulfilling Humanity’s Duty Together.” The commemoration will continue across 78 major cities worldwide through October.
This year’s summit gathered more than 800 global leaders—including former and current presidents, prime ministers, speakers of parliament, chief justices, cabinet ministers, and leaders in education, religion, media, and youth sectors—who voluntarily traveled to Korea, demonstrating expanding global support for HWPL’s peace initiatives.
Since the inaugural HWPL World Peace Summit in 2014, the organization has pledged practical approaches for conflict resolution through international law, interfaith cooperation, and peace education. At this 11th anniversary, HWPL presented its key achievements from the past year, notably the development of public–private partnership models for embedding sustainable peace within diverse national contexts.
A central agenda item was the global expansion of support for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), HWPL’s proposed legal framework to end wars and establish lasting peace. The DPCW sets out principles such as the prohibition of the use of force, conflict prevention and mediation, and ensuring sustainable peace.
Over the past year, 17 international and regional bodies—including the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (PARLATINO), the legislatures of Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, and South Sudan, as well as local governments in the Philippines, Mongolia, the U.S. state of Georgia, Madagascar, Mali, and India—adopted resolutions in support of the DPCW.
Chairman Lee Man-hee of HWPL emphasized global cooperation for peace, saying, “Conflict can never be good. Only the achievement of peace is truly good. If we fail to establish a peaceful world in our time, we will burden future generations with conflict. What we leave behind must be a world of peace, not one of conflict. The work before us today is to commit ourselves to acts of goodness.”
HWPL Chairman Lee Man hee at the plenary session
Former President of Croatia H.E. Ivo Josipović gave congratulatory message saying, “all of us must be aware that our activity for banning war throughout the world is more important now than ever.” and stressed that this year’s achievements are the guarantee that humankind will one day achieve eternal peace.
In the religious sector, the launch of the Solidarity of Religions’ Peace Committee (SRPC) was highlighted as a milestone. HWPL currently operates 292 WARP Offices across 132 countries, facilitating scripture-based dialogue and interfaith discussions. Since 2023, the HWPL International Religious Peace Academy has been implemented as an interfaith learning program, formally recognized in several countries as a platform for leaders and citizens to engage in peace-centered dialogue.
In education, progress was made in institutionalizing HWPL Peace Education into public school curricula. Zambia introduced the program across schools in its capital Lusaka, and announced plans for nationwide expansion in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. Mongolia also reported advancements in integrating HWPL Peace Education into both lifelong learning institutions and public education.
At the Global Peace Education Conference, Mr. Ian Miyoba, Director of Education Policy at Zambia’s Ministry of Education, stated, “Through peace education, we are amplifying citizens’ voices for peace and fostering a culture of peace. It can prevent issues like child rights violations, child marriage, and drug use, creating tangible change in the community. That’s what makes the HWPL Peace Education so unique and why it was the perfect fit for Zambia.”
Over the past year, HWPL’s global membership increased by 140,000, surpassing 580,000. HWPL Secretary-General Kang Tae-ho noted in his progress report, “Citizens worldwide, suffering from wars and conflicts, strongly yearn for genuine peace beyond the current order. This collective aspiration has directly led to the rapid growth of HWPL’s membership.”
Participant listening to HWPL’s achievements at the event
While the Cheongju summit served as the centerpiece, HWPL emphasized that anniversary events will continue in 78 countries through October. More than 15,000 leaders from international organizations, governments, and civil society are expected to participate in in-depth discussions on long-term strategies for sustainable peace, tailored to their respective national contexts.
