Home for Humanity founders Prof. Alexander Schieffer and Dr. Rama Mani present the award to Vice Mayor Rommel Arnado and Mayor Sonia Arnado for leading Kauswagan’s transformation. (Photo courtesy of LGU Kauswagan)
KAUSWAGAN, Lanao del Norte — Kauswagan has been named the first municipality in the world to receive the Home for Humanity Award, recognizing its transition from a conflict-affected area to a community focused on peace and food security.
Mayor Sonia Arnado and Vice Mayor Rommel Arnado received the award on behalf of the municipality on December 4.
Former Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front combatants and commanders, now leaders in local peace and agriculture initiatives, accepted the designation of the From Arms to Farms Program as the first Home for Humanity Peace Camp.
Kauswagan experienced armed attacks in 2000 and 2008 and recorded high poverty levels. Through the From Arms to Farms program, the municipality’s poverty incidence declined from 79.9% in 2010 to 9.1% in 2019, according to local data. The program also focused on public safety and governance.
The award was conferred by Prof. Alexander Schieffer and Dr. Rama Mani, founders of Home for Humanity, during their visit to the municipality.
“You have written a new page of History: what Kauswagan achieved in just 15 years is a benchmark, for every municipality, city, province and country on Earth to follow your example to transform today’s violence, inequality and become a home of unity between former enemies, of intercultural peace, of economic wellbeing, and a role model of Earth citizenship, taking care of Nature and each other,” Schieffer said.
Mani said the Home for Humanity movement recognizes Kauswagan’s efforts, noting that former combatants have helped establish the town as a peace camp, earning two firsts under the Home for Humanity initiative.
“You are the most outstanding exemplar of true peace and unity between former enemies and of integrated ethical governance for peace, prosperity, wellbeing, and ecological regeneration I have experienced in my 35 years worldwide,” she said.
The From Arms to Farms Program supports the transition of former combatants from armed activity to organic farming and community development.
Dr. Youssef Mahmoud, co-chair of the Home for Humanity Movement and former United Nations undersecretary-general, presented the award via video conference from New York City. Jean Fabre, a United Nations consultant based in Geneva, Switzerland, also attended the ceremony.
“You exemplify a new paradigm of leadership that the world urgently needs today. “LADDERship” whereby you do not seek personal glory but build a ladder for others to thrive,” Mahmoud said.
Fabre said Kauswagan demonstrates how conflict and neglect can be addressed through people- and environment-centered approaches.
“People from around the world will come here to learn how to achieve what our human conscience dictates and what UN SDG goals oblige us to do: to end hunger, poverty, and illiteracy forever, and to end the scourge of war and deliver freedom from fear, as promised by the UN Charter,” he said.
Kauswagan has received other national and international recognitions, including the 2024 Future Policy Award on Sustainable Peace from the World Future Council in Geneva, the 2016 Peace Prize from United Cities and Local Governments in Colombia, and the 2024 Gawad Kapayapaan from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity.
The municipality was also named the Most Competitive Municipality in the Philippines in 2024.
The Home for Humanity Movement promotes peace, unity, and global citizenship. (PIA)
Former Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation combatants, now peacebuilders and leaders in Kauswagan’s organic agriculture movement, accept the From Arms to Farms Program as the first-ever Home for Humanity Peace Camp. (Photo courtesy of LGU Kauswagan)