In this powerful episode of the Women as Agents of Change podcast, Liza Florida sits down with Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, whose life story is a testament to the power of turning personal history into a global mission. Ate. Honey recounts how her formative years, marked by the sirens and fear of the Gulf War, planted a deep longing to help children affected by conflict. Guided by her unique interfaith family roots—a Maranao Muslim father and a Catholic-born mother who embraced Islam—she embodies a message of unity that transcends cultural and religious divides.
This conversation explores the heart of her work with the Teach Peace Build Peace Movement, a vision she brought to life in 2013. Ate. Honey explains her core philosophy: that peace is not merely a concept to be studied but a skill to be practiced daily, just like math or science. Through innovative programs like the “Peaceable Classroom,” she is equipping children with tools for mindfulness, empathy, and conflict resolution. This isn’t a story about passively hoping for a better world; it is a blueprint for actively building one, child by child, classroom by classroom, proving that those closest to the chaos are also closest to the solution.
Key Topics Covered
A Childhood Shaped by Conflict: How Honey’s experience as a child during the Gulf War ignited her lifelong commitment to peacebuilding.
A Legacy of Peace: The influence of her Maranao royal heritage and a family of traditional mediators on her modern-day mission.
Bridge of Faiths: How growing up in a loving interfaith (Muslim-Catholic) family became the foundation for her approach to unity and understanding.
The Vision of a Movement: The deeply personal story and prayerful discernment that led to the creation of the Teach Peace Build Peace Movement in 2013.
Prevention and Aftercare: A look into the movement’s two-track approach: the “Peace Heroes Formation Program” for prevention and an aftercare track for the healing and reintegration of youth “returnees.”
The Peaceable Classroom: Honey’s innovative methodology for making peace a daily, lived practice in schools through tools like “Mindful Minutes” and co-created peace agreements.
Peace Through Creativity: The essential role of art, music, storytelling, and creative expression as universal languages for healing and connection.
From Inner Peace to Global Movement: The deep spiritual faith that grounds Honey’s work and her unwavering vision for creating a global citizenry of “Peace Heroes.”
Powerful Quotes from Bai Rohaniza Usman
- “Art reaches the heart even faster than words… It helps us heal from our past, and it helps us build a kind of hope.”
- “I had a dream, which is to raise a generation of Filipino children who know what peace truly means, even in the face of conflict and violence.”
- “What if peace was something we taught every day? Just like science and math… What if peace was taught in such a way where in it’s part of our daily life.”
- “Peace begins within our hearts, our minds. Our actions every day, peace begins with you. You are the difference. You are the peace, you are the movement.”
- “It’s a symbol of hope that never gives up.” (Referring to the Aftercare Peace Track Guidebook).
- “Love knows no boundaries. Love moves in wondrous ways.”
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Innovative Projects & Global Initiatives
Peace Heroes Formation Program: The flagship initiative designed to build a citizenry of peace heroes through two main tracks: prevention/protection in schools and an aftercare journey for youth returnees.
The Peaceable Classroom Toolkit: A tangible learning resource book filled with strategies and tools that empower teachers to integrate peace into daily classroom routines, from “Mindful Minutes” to “Peace Jargons.”
Music for Peace Camps: Creative camps where children and youth express their stories of pain and hope by composing heartfelt songs, transforming them into “Musicians for Peace Ambassadors.”
Aftercare Peace Track Guidebook (The “Pink Book”): A trauma-informed guidebook created as a “labor of love” to support the healing and reintegration journey of returnees and their families.
Connect with Bai Rohaniza Husman & Teach Peace Build Peace Movement,
and her team are expanding their mission to more schools and communities. To follow their work and support the creation of a new generation of Peace Heroes, you can connect with them via:
Facebook: Teach Peace Build Peace Movement
Instagram: @teachpeace.buildpeace
YouTube: Teach Peace Build Peace Movement
Connect with Liza Florida
Instagram: @lizaflorida and @eightbillionproject
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eightbillionpodcast/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-florida-07597119
Website: https://lizaflorida.com/
Special Thanks
To Bai Rohaniza Usman for her profound wisdom, her gentle strength, and her unwavering dedication to the children of the Philippines. Thank you for sharing your heart and showing us how to build a more beautiful world.
To the International Peace Bureau for their partnership and support for this podcast series. You can learn more about their work at https://ipb.org/ and see more on their YouTube channel.
To the women peacebuilders and human rights defenders in the Philippines and across the globe who are leading the way with courage and ingenuity.
To our listeners, may this episode inspire you to find the peace within, to build bridges in your own communities, and to champion the next generation of peace heroes.
About the Series:
Women as Agents of Change is a special podcast series hosted by Liza Florida, presented in collaboration with the International Peace Bureau and Eight Billion Project. Each episode celebrates the wisdom, vision, and courage of women working to build a more peaceful and just world.