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Announcement

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The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee has decided to award the 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize to three extraordinary leaders who have provided innovative and practical solutions for achieving peaceful and harmonious coexistence for all humanity.

This year’s laureates have made significant and lasting contributions in the fields of education, global citizen movements, and environmental conservation, addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time, including poverty, inequality, and climate change. Their achievements present a compelling vision of a global community thriving through collaboration and mutual support. 

With this in mind, we proudly announce that The 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize is awarded to the following:Patrick Awuah, who has led the transformation of education in Africa and fostered ethical leadership for future generations; Hugh Evans, who has established a new paradigm for collective action through global citizenship; and Wanjira Mathai, who has created a model for sustainable development by integrating environmental conservation with economic empowerment.

Patrick Awuah has transformed higher education in Africa, establishing it as a beacon of ethical leadership and technological advancement. As the founder of Ashesi University in Ghana, he introduced an innovative curriculum that seamlessly integrates ethical principles with cutting-edge technological training. Under his visionary leadership, Ashesi University has become a leading institution, producing graduates who tackle systemic challenges such as poverty, corruption, and inequality. Patrick Awuah’s contributions reaffirm the transformative power of education as a cornerstone for societal progress and sustainable development, leaving an indelible mark on the global education landscape.

Hugh Evans is a pioneering leader who has mobilized a global movement to address poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. As the founder of Global Citizen, he has galvanized collective action, securing over $43.6 billion in commitments that have positively impacted the lives of more than 1.3 billion people worldwide. By leveraging digital platforms to inspire action, his groundbreaking efforts have redefined global citizenship, demonstrating the extraordinary potential of unity in confronting humanity’s most pressing challenges. Hugh Evans’ work exemplifies a bold new model of international collaboration, underscoring the power of collective action to create a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

Wanjira Mathai has been a trailblazer in integrating environmental conservation with economic empowerment, driving sustainable development across Africa. Through the Green Belt Movement, she has facilitated the planting of over 51 million trees, addressing deforestation and soil erosion while empowering communities and advancing women’s economic self-reliance. Additionally, her leadership in the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100) aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, making a significant contribution to combating climate change. Wanjira Mathai’s achievements highlight the vital synergy between environmental sustainability and community development, offering a powerful global model for achieving harmony between human prosperity and ecological balance.

The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee extends its deepest respect to the 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize laureates, Patrick Awuah, Hugh Evans, and Wanjira Mathai, for their vision and dedication. They have offered innovative solutions to today’s urgent global challenges—poverty, inequality, and climate change—through the cultivation of ethical leadership in education, the transformation of societies via global citizenship, and the harmonious integration of environmental sustainability with community regeneration.

This year’s laureates have based their work on universal values such as human dignity and sustainable development, demonstrating that humanity can indeed realize the ideal of "One Family Under God." Their achievements stand as a testament to the power of hope and unity in addressing global challenges, illuminating the path toward peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity.

The 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize honors their outstanding leadership and commitment, serving as an enduring milestone on humanity’s journey toward a better world.

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Award Direction

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Innovation for Peace

The 6th Sunhak Peace Prize highlights the challenges and achievements of leaders who have overcome global crises through creative and sustainable solutions under the theme of “Innovation for Peace.”

The complex challenges facing humanity today—such as climate change, conflicts and humanitarian crises, economic inequality, and worsening poverty—demand creative and inclusive solutions that go beyond conventional approaches. Considering the pace of change and the complexity of these issues, traditional methods alone are insufficient to effectively address such problems.

Innovation extends beyond technological advancements to include a “Shift in Mindset”, “Policy Evolution”, and “Innovation in Collaboration”. These innovative approaches are essential not only for effectively responding to global crises but also for laying the foundation for sustainable peace.

Achieving sustainable peace requires innovative actions to address real-world problems, cross-border cooperation that transcends national boundaries, and inspiring leadership that motivates global citizens to drive change.

In this spirit, 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize recognizes leaders who have proposed creative and sustainable solutions amidst global crises and achieved extraordinary accomplishments that transcend limits.

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Press Release

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"2025 Sunhak Peace Prize Honors Global Leaders Driving Innovation for Peace"

Transformational Leadership for Global Peace

Announcing the winners, Chairman Barroso emphasized, “The 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize highlights visionary leaders who have turned the ideals of peace into actionable and sustainable solutions. These laureates have boldly addressed global challenges and spearheaded transformative change.”

Patrick Awuah Jr.: Revolutionizing Education in Africa

Patrick Awuah has reshaped the higher education landscape in Africa through the establishment of Ashesi University. By fostering an innovative academic environment focusing on STEM education, ethical leadership, and entrepreneurship, he has empowered countless young Africans to excel.

● Over 90% of Ashesi graduates secure meaningful employment or launch successful businesses.

● Women comprise 50% of its graduates, advancing gender equity across the continent.

Hugh Evans: Mobilizing Global Action Against Poverty

Hugh Evans revolutionized the fight against poverty through his organization, Global Citizen. His efforts have mobilized approximately $43.6 billion for poverty eradication and development programs, directly impacting over 1.3 billion people worldwide.

● Advocated at G7, G20, and UN platforms to mobilize financial and policy commitments from world leaders, driving global progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

● Empowered global citizens to drive 30 international policy changes addressing poverty, inequality, and climate crises.

Wanjira Mathai: Championing Environmental Restoration in Africa

Wanjira Mathai pioneered the integration of environmental restoration with economic development. Through initiatives like the Green Belt Movement, she:

● Planted over 51 million trees, combating deforestation and soil erosion.

● Revitalized local economies and created employment opportunities for women.

● Led the AFR100 initiative to restore 100 million hectares of land across Africa by 2030, contributing significantly to climate resilience.

In addition, the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation’s prestigious Founder’s Award will be presented to Xanana Gusmão, a key leader in East Timor’s struggle for independence. As the nation's first President and current Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmão has championed peace and international solidarity through initiatives such as the g7+, fostering collaboration among fragile states to overcome shared challenges.

The founder of the Sunhak Peace Prize, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, stated in her welcoming address, “Over the past decade, the Sunhak Peace Prize has identified and honored individuals who have dedicated themselves to addressing urgent global challenges based on its three core values: respect for human rights, reconciliation of conflicts, and ecological conservation.” She further emphasized, “The lives of the laureates have been a vivid and inspiring testament to how peace can be realized through concrete actions and cultural transformation.” She also pledged to continue discovering outstanding global leaders to expand the vision for peace worldwide.

Award Ceremony Details

The 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony will take place on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 3:00 PM at the Lotte Hotel in Jamsil, Seoul, South Korea. The hybrid event will be held both in-person and online. Each laureate will receive a cash prize of $200,000, along with a medal and a plaque.

For more information, please visit www.sunhakpeaceprize.org.

Media Contact: Tel: +82-2-3278-5158

Mobile: +82-10-2936-9138

Email: sunhakprize@gmail.com

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Founder's Welcoming Message

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January 15, 2025

Journalists from around the world,

Esteemed leaders who support the vision and values of the Sunhak Peace Prize,

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for joining us on this significant occasion.

It is with great joy that we announce the historic individuals who have been honored as the laureates of the 6th Sunhak Peace Prize in celebration of its 10th anniversary. I am deeply thankful for the opportunity to reflect on the meaningful journey, remarkable achievements, and future vision of the Sunhak Peace Prize over the past decade.

In 2014, together with my late husband, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, I founded the Sunhak Peace Prize to solidify our lifelong vision and mission: the realization of a peaceful world as "One Family Under God."

This vision is not a mere concept. It encompasses concrete virtues and a philosophy of peace that all global citizens must share and practice, transcending race, nationality, religion, culture, and time.

Historically, human civilization has been unable to break free from cycles of exclusion, conflict, confrontation, and division. Despite lofty rhetoric about peace, human-centered ideologies and philosophies have only reinforced self-centeredness.

Even today, at the midpoint of the 21st century, humanity faces countless urgent crises and challenges. The wars and conflicts that continue to arise across the globe, the disasters caused by environmental abuse, and the poverty and inequality exacerbated by the response to the pandemic compel us to confront fundamental questions about humanity's intrinsic values and purposes and how they can be rediscovered.

The vision and mission of the Sunhak Peace Prize are firmly centered on our Creator, God. The God I have come to know is a Heavenly Parent of harmony, unity, and true love. God created the universe and all life in pairs—male and female—according to God’s divine principles. From minerals to higher beings, there is no creation on Earth that exists outside the principles of God's creation.

Human beings, created as male and female in God's image, were designed as God’s children and given a period of growth to reach maturity and fulfillment. This means that humanity bears responsibility and has been bestowed the extraordinary gift of ascending to the realm of the Creator’s value.

Tragically, humanity failed to fulfill this responsibility. In Christian theology, this is described as "the Fall." As a result, humans lost sight of God's essence and values, leading to a severance in their relationship with God. This has caused human history to be dominated by male-centered, winner-centered, and ruler-centered narratives.

For true peace to be established, we must recognize that God exists as both Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother—the Heavenly Parent who created all life in duality. All creation is not an independent entity achieving its purpose through conflict or opposition but rather a harmonious union, fulfilling each other in true love according to the principles of creation. This is why the Sunhak Peace Prize advocates for transcending human-centered ideologies and upholding the ideal of "One Family Under God" centered on Heavenly Parent.

The Sunhak Peace Prize has steadfastly pursued the three pillars of respecting human rights, promoting reconciliation, and preserving the environment. Over the past decade, it has tirelessly sought out and honored individuals who have dedicated their lives to solving the world’s most pressing challenges. Sharing and amplifying their extraordinary achievements and forward-looking visions globally has been the greatest joy and pride of the Sunhak Peace Prize.

To date, we have honored a total of 12 remarkable individuals as symbols of world peace. The announcement of the three new laureates and one recipient of the Founder’s Special Honorary Award today will further illuminate the universal values of peace that humanity strives to achieve.

As the founder, I sincerely hope that each of you will become future champions of the Sunhak Peace Prize. I look forward to the day when you come to understand and embrace the essence and values of our Heavenly Parent as the True Parent and become true children of true love and peace. The Sunhak Peace Prize will continue to identify exemplary global leaders and expand the vision of peace rooted in love for humanity and the Earth, ensuring a brighter future for all.

I extend my deepest gratitude to all who have joined us on this extraordinary journey toward true peace. Just as a single drop of water flows into a river and eventually reaches the ocean, I ask for your continued interest and support so that the vision of the Sunhak Peace Prize can be passed on to future generations. May it promise a flourishing humanity, enduring welfare, and a hopeful future. With these words, I conclude my welcoming address.

Thank you.