South East Asia Learning Hub on Promoting peace, Protecting people, and Social cohesion through Faith

The South East Asia Learning Hub on Promoting peace, protecting people, and Social cohesion through Faith (PPSF) Hub was launched in 2022 under the JLI and in collaboration with Spirit in Education Movement (SEM), International of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), University of Leeds, and the Salvation Army.

The South East Asia PPSF Learning Hub focuses on how local faith actors – particularly Buddhist temples – in the Mae Sot border region of Thailand are supporting migrant children from Myanmar.

Origin of the South East Asia PPSF Learning Hub:

The Hub was initially envisioned as a regional extension of JLI’s existing Anti-Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Global Learning Hub, but after the first listening dialogues, and given the sensitivity of the term “human trafficking” in this context, participants advocated for reframing the Hub’s language and focus more broadly around promoting peace, protecting people, and social cohesion through faith.

The Hub was also initially envisioned as a multi-country initiative across the Greater Mekong sub-region, the Hub refocused on Mae Sot, Thailand due to the region’s complex linguistic, religious, and political dynamics.

Recognising the sensitivities around Myanmar’s political situation and the need to build trust with local faith actors, SEM and INEB launched a pilot in Mae Sot. Between December 2022 and March 2023, they engaged local partners, including secular organisations and a Buddhist temple, who expressed interest in participating in the Listening Dialogue.

The South East Asia PPSF Learning Hub’s Approach:

The Southeast Asia Learning Hub on Promoting Peace, Protecting People, and Social Cohesion through Faith (PPSF) is a collaborative initiative that uses faith-based engagement, grassroots partnerships, and regional dialogue to promote peace and dignity for displaced communities.
By centering the realities of border communities in Mae Sot, and uplifting the roles of Buddhist temples, youth leaders, refugees, and interfaith actors, the Hub builds bridges between local experiences and global learning.

Our Approach:

• Listening Dialogues to understand community needs
• Empowering young monastics and migrant youth
• Collaborating with civil society and faith institutions
• Raising public awareness through events, art, and storytelling
• Connecting national and local actors for sustained impact

As part of the JLI global network, the Hub acts as a regional learning and action platform, grounded in the belief that faith, compassion, and community leadership are vital to sustainable peace and protection.