From Combatants to Peace Workers
Anna Zaros / Nonviolent Peaceforce

(May 8, 2026) — War displaces families. Peace helps them stay.  
War destroys communities. Peace helps them rebuild.
War isolates people in fear. Peace connects them.  
And sometimes peace does something even more powerful: it transforms those once closest to violence into leaders of safety.   

In the Philippines, a group of women known as the Bangsamoro Islamic Women’s Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB) was once a part of an armed movement. For years, they were trained for combat. But since a peace agreement in 2019, these women have stepped out of armed camps and into their communities: not as combatants, but as Women Peace Facilitators.

With support and training from Nonviolent Peaceforce, the women of BIWAB have strengthened their skills in advocacy, peacebuilding, and the psychosocial skills needed to support reconciliation. Equipping themselves with nonviolent skills instead of arms, these women are now the ones the community seeks out for advice and to support local development projects.

As one member shared: “Every time the municipal government launches a program, BIWAB has consistently been asked to help lead initiatives. We are more recognized now than before.” 

Today, their work spans regions, raising awareness of women’s rights, peacebuilding, and preventing gender-based violence. And their reputation has shifted, too: from fighters to peacebuilders.

This is what happens when we invest in people instead of weapons. Now in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the norm of armed conflict is beginning to fade, and children are starting to see a reality built on mutual respect as armed troops leave.

 When you give to Nonviolent Peaceforce, you’re ensuring communities are protected not just in moments of crisis, but every day in between.

Together, we are investing in the long-term capacity building needed for this systemic transformation, moving the needle toward peace. War is constant. Peace must be, too. Remember, a group of 5 dedicated supporters will match your gift dollar-for-dollar.

With thanks, 
Anna Zaros 
Director of Advancement