The WHY Behind Peacebuilding in Action

"To the students, we encourage you to embrace this opportunity wholeheartedly. Every challenge faced is a stepping stone toward your goals, and your commitment to peacebuilding has the power to create lasting impacts. Stay dedicated to your vision, knowing that the Pono Pono Peace Initiative is here to support you every step of the way."

With our student competition, Peacebuilding in Action, in full swing, we wanted to share the inspiration behind our competition. We were inspired to organize a student competition to enhance the practical skills and career readiness of peacebuilding students at BYU-Hawaii. While students receive an excellent education, we seek to provide experiential learning opportunities that prepare them to become effective leaders in their home communities worldwide. By guiding participants through the process of building a nonprofit organization (NGO) or social enterprise, the competition aligns directly with our mission to empower peacebuilding students. It offers supplemental learning, internships, and career development opportunities tailored to the Asia-Pacific region, helping students gain valuable experience and establish vital networks for launching economically stable and impactful careers.

The primary objective of this competition is to prepare peacebuilding students for successful post-graduation careers by empowering them to become influential leaders and positive change-makers in their communities. Through the hands-on experience of creating an NGO or social enterprise, participants gain practical insights into social entrepreneurship and nonprofit management. The competition fosters growth by equipping students with essential skills and confidence, enabling them to apply their education to real-world challenges. Additionally, connecting with successful alumni and professionals enhances their networking opportunities, mentorship prospects, and future job placement potential. The goal is for students to emerge from this experience fully empowered to effect meaningful, lasting change in their communities.

During the competition, students will present a written and verbal submission to a panel of judges pitching an NGO program or social enterprise that uses peacebuilding to meet a specific need in the Asia Pacific Region. Each submission will include a project overview, system scan, financial sustainability plan, theory of change, risk analysis, overview of management and organization, and a one year plan. This format was created from numerous existing business competitions that support students in developing an idea into something tangible, with the criteria being developed to encompass both the business side of running an NGO as well as the peacebuilding side of things. Judges will review written and verbal submissions and grade them based on a predetermined rubric. After the winner has been chosen, our mentors will meet with the winning student or winning team for a predetermined amount of hours and provide valuable support, guidance, and mentorship in areas tailored to the winning submission. Such mentorship could be focused on program development, monitoring and evaluating program impact, grant writing, and organizational development. 

Designed with specific skill development in mind, the competition helps students build entrepreneurial skills by teaching them to conceptualize and implement viable projects. Participants also develop expertise in networking and collaboration through interactions with alumni and community leaders, enhancing their ability to form impactful partnerships. Practical project management experience is gained as students navigate the planning, execution, and evaluation stages of their proposals. The initiative encourages critical thinking about social issues, promoting awareness of peacebuilding principles and their real-world applications. Finally, professional development opportunities enhance students’ résumés, making them more competitive in the job market or graduate school applications.

The long-term vision of this competition is to significantly impact students’ academic and professional trajectories. By equipping participants with real-world skills and experiences, the initiative aims to produce leaders who can navigate post-graduation challenges with confidence, creating meaningful change locally and globally. The successor our competition will be measured through various indicators, including student engagement, career outcomes, and networking impact. Tracking participation levels, the quality of submitted projects, and the establishment of NGOs or social enterprises will help evaluate the competition’s effectiveness. Feedback from students and partners will ensure continuous improvement to meet evolving needs, while expanded collaborations and enhanced resources will help refine the competition in the future.

This competition is profoundly meaningful because of the goodness and resilience demonstrated by BYU-Hawaii students. Their determination to pursue education despite challenges inspires us and we firmly believe economic security plays a crucial role in empowering individuals to lead meaningful lives and influence others positively. Witnessing the gratitude expressed by students has been deeply touching, reaffirming my passion for supporting their growth. While organizing this event presented logistical challenges, the overwhelming enthusiasm from participants eager to engage exceeded expectations, reinforcing the importance of this initiative. To the students, we encourage you to embrace this opportunity wholeheartedly. Every challenge faced is a stepping stone toward your goals, and your commitment to peacebuilding has the power to create lasting impacts. Stay dedicated to your vision, knowing that the Pono Pono Peace Initiative is here to support you every step of the way.