Growing peace and coffee in the Philippines
Lakambini Mapayapa and Lakan Sumulong (Joji and Dann Pantoja) are Mennonite Church Canada Witness workers. They founded Peacebuilders Community, Inc.
The island of Mindanao is known as a conflict zone in the Philippines. It is also the home of the PeaceBuilders Community Inc. (PBCI), founded by Lakan Sumulong and Lakambini Mapayapa (Dann and Joji Pantoja). PBCI provides peace-and-justice training for Christian church leaders, Indigenous leaders and civil society organizations. Their vision is that by the year 2030 each of the 81 provinces will have an established Peace and Reconciliation Community.
As part of PBCI’s sustainable development initiative, Joji works as CEO of Coffee for Peace, a social enterprise that works directly with local coffee farmers to ensure a fair return for their product and responsible environmental practices.
Malipayon Peace Hub fundraising campaign
Mennonite Church Canada’s International Witness ministry is inviting donations to complete the construction of the Malipayon Peace Hub in Mindanao, Philippines. The aim is to raise CAN$235,000 by March 2024. The completion of the project includes a new peace and reconciliation training centre for Peacebuilders Community Inc (PBCI), an upgraded processing and farmer training centre for Coffee for Peace (CFP), a new staff house and guest house, and a delivery vehicle. PBCI and CFP founders Dann and Joji Pantoja, who will transition into retirement in 2026, will lead the project in the Philippines. Jeanette Hanson, Director of Witness International Ministry, will coordinate fundraising efforts in Canada.
Building Peace Communities in the Philippines
The island of Mindanao is known as a conflict zone in the Philippines, but it is the place where Witness workers Lakan Sumulong and Lakambini Mapayapa (Dann and Joji Pantoja) have founded PeaceBuilders Community Inc. (PCBI). PCBI provides peace-and-justice training for Christian church leaders, Indigenous leaders and civil society organizations.