About MasterPeace Champions Edition

Some people don't just work for an organisation, they become woven into its story. The Champions Edition is MasterPeace's tribute to the people who have given the most: their time, their energy, their belief. These are the builders. The connectors. The ones who showed up, year after year, and made peace more than a word.

"Art Is Not Decoration. It Is a Quiet Revolution."

Armela Pengili joined MasterPeace in 2013 from Tirana, Albania, drawn by a simple but radical idea: that peace is not something you declare, but it is something you practice, every single day. Over a decade later, she has helped introduce an entirely new concept to her country, built friendships across five continents, and become one of MasterPeace's most devoted Club Leaders. This is her story, in her own words.

The Beginning

Armela Pengili grew up in Durres, a seaside city in Albania. It was 2013 when she first encountered MasterPeace, and what caught her attention was not a programme or a project, but an idea. "The idea that peace is not something you declare, but something you practice. Every single day." In a world that often treats peace as an outcome rather than a daily act, that distinction felt important. It still does.

She describes her first experience of MasterPeace as discovering something genuinely different, not an organisation in the conventional sense, but a space. "A space where music, art, and human connection were not decorations, but tools for real change." She became curious. She never really left.

"Peace is not something you declare. It is something you practice. Every single day."

— Armela Pengili

Artiviste Stafete — Introducing Artivism to Albania

Over more than a decade as a Club Leader, Armela has led projects that go well beyond MasterPeace's walls. But the work she is most proud of is Artiviste Stafete, a project that introduced the concept of artivism to Albania for the very first time.

The idea was deceptively simple: bring together artistic performance and social activism. Show that a song, a mural, or a theatre piece could carry a political message louder than a speech ever could. What started as a local experiment became something larger. Other projects and organisations across Albania began adopting the concept. Artivism (the fusion of art and activism) entered the vocabulary of Albanian civil society.

"That, for me, is what MasterPeace impact looks like," Armela reflects. 

"Not staying within your own walls, but inspiring a ripple that travels far beyond them."

— Armela Pengili

What MasterPeace Has Taught Her

We asked Armela what MasterPeace has given her, and she does not reach for the expected answers. She talks about friendships, people from Tunisia, the Netherlands, Lebanon, Colombia, "united by shared values across distances and differences." She talks about what leadership really means: not having all the answers, but creating space for others to flourish.

A Message to the Next Generation

Armela's message to anyone just starting their MasterPeace journey is characteristic: direct, warm, and free of pretension.

"Come with curiosity and an open mind. You do not need to have the answers. You just need the desire to change something, and the courage to use creativity as your weapon."

And if she had to sum up everything MasterPeace has taught her in one sentence? She already has. It is the sentence she carries:

"Art is not decoration, it is a quiet revolution."

— Armela Pengili

Armela Pengili is a Club Leader at MasterPeace Albania, based in Tirana. She has been part of the MasterPeace family since 2013.

The Champions Edition celebrates the people who have helped build MasterPeace's story.

In April 2023, MasterPeace along with MasterPeace Club Nepal Youth Council (NYC) brought together 40 young leaders, changemakers, and innovators from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands for the MasterPeace Asia Bootcamp held in Nepal from 1st to 4th April 2023. More than just a regional gathering, the bootcamp became a space where ideas, cultures, and friendships came together with one shared vision and created a more peaceful and sustainable world.

Among the participants was Anurag Gangwar, representing Aarohan NGO alongside his colleague Abdul Azeem. During the bootcamp, they introduced innovative platforms called Benevity Cause and Impact Verse which are platforms aimed at helping civil society organizations connect with donors, measure their impact, and strengthen meaningful social change.

But beyond the presentations and sessions, what stayed with Anurag was something far more personal.

Reflecting on the experience, he shared that the bootcamp was “genuinely special,” highlighting not only the learning opportunities and partner dialogues, but also the cultural experiences across Nepal and the deep connections formed with participants from across South Asia. For him, the most powerful lesson was the importance of community, trust, and collaboration built on shared values and common purpose.

“I left with great memories, new friends, and a deeper belief in what becomes possible when people come together with purpose,” Anurag reflected.

Stories like Anurag’s remind us that the impact of MasterPeace is not only measured through projects and activities, but through the people whose perspectives, confidence, and commitment to change are strengthened along the way. The Asia Bootcamp created a platform where young leaders and changemakers could inspire one another, exchange ideas, and build relationships that continue far beyond the event itself.

Through the MasterPeace Impact Series, we continue to celebrate these personal journeys, stories of connection, growth, and collective action that demonstrate how local efforts can create global impact.

Hasanabdal, Pakistan, March 28, 2026

MasterPeace Pakistan officially launched its Tree Plantation Campaign 2026 in Hasanabdal, Pakistan, reaffirming its commitment to environmental sustainability and a more community-driven climate action.

The campaign brought together dedicated volunteers and community members who participated enthusiastically in planting saplings and promoting environmental responsibility. Among the active volunteers were Jaytegh Singh and Gurmail Singh, whose efforts reflected the spirit of unity, teamwork, and care for the environment.

The activity focused not only on planting trees but also on encouraging long-term sustainability practices. Participants worked together in digging, watering, and carefully placing saplings to ensure healthy growth and long-term impact. A variety of plants, including roses, were selected to help enhance local biodiversity and contribute positively to the surrounding ecosystem.

The campaign created a heartwarming atmosphere as participants worked side by side with a shared goal of protecting nature and building a greener future for coming generations.

Message of Peace and Sustainability

The Tree Plantation Campaign is part of MasterPeace Pakistan’s broader mission to promote peace through meaningful environmental action. By encouraging communities to take practical steps toward climate change mitigation, the initiative aims to inspire responsibility, hope, and collective action for a more sustainable future.

Looking Ahead

The 2026 campaign began with great energy and enthusiasm, and MasterPeace Pakistan plans to continue and expand similar plantation activities throughout the year. Through these efforts, the organization hopes to contribute to a healthier environment and a more sustainable Pakistan for future generations.

For the first time, World International Peace Day 2025 was celebrated in Tehran, Iran on 21^st September 2025, marking a meaningful moment of unity, hope, and dialogue among youth, business representatives, and members of civil society.

The event was organized by MasterPeace Pakistan and led by Kelash Sarhadi, Peace Ambassador and Founder of the Society of Human Development. The celebration was conducted in Tehran as part of MasterPeace’s global movement, bringing together participants from across the city to share a collective message of peace, understanding, and cooperation.

Among the attendees was Asian, a young social activist and student from Tehran University, who showed strong interest in joining the MasterPeace movement after the event. This reflects the growing enthusiasm among young people in Iran to engage in global peace initiatives and connect beyond borders.

Speaking on the occasion, Kelash Sarhadi said:

“The people of Iran are some of the most hardworking and peace-loving individuals I have ever met. The youth are energetic, welcoming, and eager to move beyond barriers to connect with the world through peace and progress. It is a true honor to celebrate World Peace Day here in Tehran.”

The event concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening intercultural understanding and collaboration between Iranian youth and the global peace community. Participants expressed optimism for a future built on dialogue, respect, and shared humanity.