12 August 2026 - Journeying Through West Africa: Peace 2026 at the World Social Forum in Benin

The One Home Journey (1HJ) has officially embarked on its third transformative year, and our very first stop in West Africa is the vibrant nation of Benin. This year, the Home for Humanity (H4H) movement was deeply honored to be invited by our close and visionary partners, Ekta Parishad and Jai Jagat, to co-convene the Peace 2026 initiative. Together with RRAS – Rethinking Security in Africa & Mahatma Gandhi Foundation Canada, we gathered at the World Social Forum (WSF) in Cotonou, Benin, to champion global solidarity, resilience, and non-violence.

Bringing Peace to the Center Stage

Through five dynamic and highly interactive sessions, Peace 2026 successfully brought the diverse, multifaceted dimensions of peace to the very center of the WSF agenda. Our discussions focused on actionable pathways to a better world, exploring:

• Local Indigenous and Cultural Peacemaking: Honoring ancient wisdom and community-led conflict resolution.

• Non-Violent Economies: Envisioning systems of trade and livelihood that uplift rather than exploit.

• The Role of Women: Spotlighting the indispensable leadership of women in fostering enduring peace and social healing.

• The Agency of Youth: Empowering the next generation to be the primary architects of their own future.

• Peace Education: Cultivating mindsets of empathy, understanding, and unity from the ground up.

Voices of Lived Experience

The true heart of Peace 2026 lay in the incredible speakers who anchored our sessions with their lived experiences and profound insights:

• Borris Alubu and Christian Mubika shared their harrowing yet deeply inspiring journeys of building peace amidst the unceasing war for resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Dr. Rajagopal and Dr. Jill Carr Harris brought to life the enduring power and practical application of Gandhian non-violence across India, proving that peaceful mobilization can drive monumental change.

• Alexander Schieffer and Rama Mani illuminated how the One Home Journey is actively championing, amplifying, and connecting courageous people, places, and communities. They showcased how these everyday heroes are co-creating inner, local, and planetary wellbeing across Africa and every other continent on Earth.

A Testimony of Resilience

The 2026 World Social Forum in Cotonou was not without its initial obstacles and logistical hurdles. Yet, WSF 2026 ultimately succeeded beautifully despite these challenges. It stood as a powerful testimony to humanity’s collective resilience and the undeniable power of dialogue to find shared solutions.