HWPL Peace Series: Uniting Youth and Communities for Peace—From Cambodia to Côte d'Ivoire

In a time when division and conflict still dominate headlines, HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light) and its youth group IPYG (International Peace Youth Group) are bringing together young people, communities, and leaders around the world to actively build peace—starting from the ground up.

This chapter of HWPL’s peace story spans Cambodia, West Africa, and the U.S., showing how youth leadership, community dialogue, and humanitarian support all play a role in shaping a more peaceful world.

Youth Peacebuilding Takes Root in Cambodia

From January 27–29, 2024, IPYG hosted a Youth Engagement for Peace Workshop (YEPW) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The event launched new partnerships between IPYG and local Cambodian NGOs working in education, human rights, and women’s empowerment.

Held at Asian Euro University, the event included a formal partnership ceremony and a series of network meetings, peace education sessions, and strategic planning discussions for ongoing collaboration.

A total of 8 NGOs and 1 educational institution officially joined IPYG, pledging continued cooperation for youth-led peacebuilding initiatives across Cambodia. This effort was made possible through the support and leadership of KYA (Khmer Youth Association), a long-time IPYG collaborator since attending HWPL’s 9.18 Peace Summit in Korea.

Speakers emphasized the importance of empowering young voices in national and international peace dialogues. There was strong interest in expanding IPYG’s YEPC (Youth Empowerment Peace Class) program and localizing peace education for over 2,000 members of partner organizations through online access.

Peace Begins in the Village: Côte d'Ivoire’s “Village of Peace”

On January 31, 2024, HWPL held its first “Village of Peace” event in Simonkro, Côte d'Ivoire. Over 500 people attended, including local officials, youth leaders, women’s groups, religious and ethnic leaders, and civic organizations.

This initiative was launched to address the lingering ethnic tensions and political unrest that have plagued Côte d'Ivoire following three civil wars. The country’s recent hosting of the African Nations Cup raised fears of renewed conflict—but HWPL stepped in to offer a unifying alternative.

Over two weeks, HWPL facilitated four dialogue sessions with local leaders and residents to discuss conflict drivers and brainstorm community-led solutions. Participants expressed a strong desire for regular peace events and deeper involvement in HWPL’s ongoing work.

Support was formalized by the district mayor, who promised continued cooperation. Neighboring towns have already begun requesting similar programs, and HWPL is planning to expand the initiative to the most conflict-affected areas.

Supporting the Vulnerable in Los Angeles

Peace isn’t just needed in war zones—it’s also needed in places where people struggle quietly every day. On February 3, 2024, HWPL’s Los Angeles branch hosted a Food Drive in Compton, California, to serve elderly residents in need.

Through the support of volunteers and local partners, HWPL collected 6,913 canned food items, valued at over $13,800. The food was distributed at the Dollarhide Community Center, where the event drew praise from city officials and community leaders.

Compton Mayor Emma Sharif issued an official letter of support for HWPL and invited them to present the initiative to the city council. Local news network Univision also covered the event, highlighting its positive impact.

One Vision, Many Hands

Whether it’s empowering young leaders in Cambodia, building dialogue across divided communities in Côte d'Ivoire, or feeding the underserved in the U.S., HWPL’s peace mission is global, practical, and people-centered.

Under the leadership of Chairman Man Hee Lee, the organization continues to grow its network of partners who believe in peace as a real solution—not a vague dream. And with youth at the center of the movement, the future of peace looks stronger every day.

Follow more stories in the HWPL Peace Series as we continue to document the real impact of Man Hee Lee’s peace legacy around the world.

Source: https://shorturl.at/guSva