We have a New Chapter of World BEYOND War in Malawi

By Guy Feugap, Africa Organizer, World BEYOND War, July 8, 2025

A committed team of young peacebuilders, educators, and climate justice activists gathered in Lilongwe and started a World BEYOND War chapter in Malawi, a country located in southern Africa, between Mozambique, Zambia, and Tanzania. This country is known for being pretty stable in this part of Africa, even though there are some growing pressures that could mess with its long-term peace. Youth unemployment is high, land disputes that started back in colonial times, and growing social and economic tensions are adding to political friction. Added to this is the fact that Malawi is very vulnerable to climate change, exacerbating food insecurity and economic fragility.

The chapter envisions a world free from all forms of violence, with mission of proactive peacebuilding, civic education, and inclusive youth engagement that are essential to prevent latent tensions from escalating into conflict. Rooted in the belief that peace must be cultivated from the ground up, the chapter is driven by the urgent need to address growing inequalities, political polarization, and environmental degradation, which are factors that increasingly threaten social cohesion.

With a vibrant and youthful population, Malawi has immense potential to lead in shaping a peaceful, just, and inclusive future. The creation of a WBW chapter in Malawi allows to localize peacebuilding efforts while connecting to a broader global movement. Through World BEYOND War, Malawi youth seek to introduce transformative thinking around the abolition of war and the promotion of sustainable peace in schools, communities, and institutions across the country.

The chapter intends to implement a range of interconnected activities designed to foster a culture of peace at all levels of society. These include peace education workshops in schools and communities alongside climate-conflict awareness campaigns that highlight the links between environmental challenges and social unrest. The chapter also plans to organize youth peace dialogues and intergenerational forums to encourage inclusive participation in peacebuilding, while also using creative approaches such as art, music and sport to engage communities in nonviolent expression and unity. The International Day of Peace will be commemorated as a key moment each year to reflect and mobilize. In addition, the chapter wants to advocate for local policies that support nonviolence, disarmament and social justice. All efforts will align with broader continental and global frameworks, particularly the African Union’s Silencing the Guns initiative and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions.