A five-member delegation from Fiji participated in the 11th Anniversary of the HWPL World Peace Summit, which took place on September 18-19 in Cheongju, South Korea. This year’s summit, organized by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), brought together over 800 global leaders under the theme “Uniting for Peace and Fulfilling Humanity’s Duty Together.”
The Fijian delegation represented various sectors, including education, religion, and youth. It featured prominent figures such as Adam Zoran Ali, the Head of Interface Search Fiji; Esira Salusalu Tunidau, a pastor from the AOG Church; Bimal Deo, Head of Lautoka Scouts and Messenger of Peace; Amrit Prakash Sharma, Vice Principal of AOG High School; and Ioane Nawaikula, Secretary-General of the National Youth Council of Fiji.
During the summit, the delegation participated in a roundtable discussion titled “Hope in Fiji – i-Taukei Project,” where they explored pivotal peacebuilding initiatives tailored for Fiji. Key projects identified included the i-Taukei Peace Education Program, which aims to preserve language and identity while promoting peaceful values, as well as a Religious Leaders’ Peace Leadership Program designed to enhance interfaith harmony. The delegation also proposed a Peace Drawing Contest for youth across Fiji and the Pacific, with Mr. Sharma suggesting a digital format for increased accessibility among primary school students. Mr. Deo emphasized the necessity for unity between iTaukei and Indo-Fijians, advocating for collaborative reconciliation in light of historical conflicts; his contributions led to his appointment as an advisor to HWPL Fiji.
Furthermore, discussions led by Mr. Nawaikula highlighted the importance of aligning youth policies with international cooperation efforts, particularly in partnership with organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The summit showcased HWPL’s expanding influence across education, religion, and international law, illustrating how peace education is being integrated into national curricula in various countries, including Zambia and Mongolia.
A special session was dedicated to the upcoming 2025 International Conference on Preparing for Peaceful Korean Reunification, which emphasized HWPL’s commitment to promoting inter-Korean exchanges and educational programs aimed at supporting unification.
Looking ahead, the Fijian delegation intends to collaborate closely with the HWPL Fiji branch to implement the discussed initiatives, reinforcing Fiji’s position within global peace efforts. The spirit of collaboration and commitment to peace reflects a promising future for cultivating a culture of harmony both in Fiji and internationally, aligning with broader initiatives that stress the importance of local actions in achieving global peace objectives.