SEOUL, South Korea — Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, one of the 20th century’s most notable freedom fighters and nation-builders, was honored Wednesday as the recipient of the Founder’s Award of the 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize.
Along with Mr. Gusmao, 78, a trio of trailblazers in the global educational, citizenship and environmental movements were named 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize Laureates: Ghanaian educator Patrick Awuah, 60; founder and president of Ashesi University; Australian humanitarian Hugh Evans, 41, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen; and Kenyan environmentalist Wanjira Mathai, 53, regional director for Africa at the World Resources Institute.
All awardees were announced Wednesday in a media briefing held at the Seoul Press Center, South Korea. The actual award ceremony will take place in April in South Korea, where each laureate will receive a cash prize of $200,000, a medal and a plaque.
“The Sunhak Peace Prize has steadfastly pursued the three pillars of respecting human rights, promoting reconciliation and preserving the environment,” Yeon Ah Moon told Wednesday’s press conference on behalf of the prize’s founder, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. “It has tirelessly sought out and honored individuals who have dedicated their lives to solving the world’s challenges. … [Today’s awardees] will further illuminate the universal values of peace that humanity strives to achieve.”
“The 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize highlights visionary leaders who have turned the ideals of peace into actionable and sustainable solutions,” added Prize Committee chairman Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, a former president of the European Commission. “These laureates have boldly addressed global challenges and spearheaded transformative change.”
The committee said in its citation that it was “a profound honor” to award Mr. Gusmao. Following Indonesian army’s 1975 invasion of Timor Leste, then known as East Timor, Mr. Gusmao united various resistance factions in the struggle against occupying forces. He also drew the attention of the world to his people’s plight, gaining widespread international attention and sympathy.
Though captured, he would shrug off years of imprisonment and return to Timor Leste after it achieved independence from Indonesia. He was immediately voted the liberated young nation’s first president.
In that role, he promoted forgiveness and reconciliation in accordance with his guiding message, “Revenge is not our path.” Mr. Gusmao’s leadership laid a foundation for Timor-Leste’s democracy, economic development and national reconstruction.
Moreover, as founder of the Group of Seven Plus, he brought together conflict-affected nations to share experiences and collaborate on peacebuilding and recovery programs. The platform has helped other troubled nations chart a path toward sustainable development, symbolizing hope and resilience.
“Mr. Gusmao’s life is a testament to the enduring values of forgiveness, reconciliation and the unyielding pursuit of peace,” said Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation Chairman Dr. Charles Yang, in a message from prize founder Dr. Moon. “His vision offers a beacon of hope for humanity and continues to inspire generations to embrace dialogue and unity as the foundation for a better world.”
The prime minister is the third Sunhak Founder awardee, following South Korean former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
Milestones for humanity
This year’s Sunhak laureates have undertaken missions that have become “enduring milestone[s] on humanity’s journey toward a better world,” the prize committee stated.
Mr. Awuah transformed higher education in Africa, establishing Ashesi (“Beginning”) as a regional beacon of both ethical leadership and technological advancement.
He introduced a new curriculum that integrates ethical principles with cutting-edge technological training. Ashesi aims to graduate scholars who are critical but compassionate thinkers, able to tackle systemic challenges such as poverty, corruption and inequality.
Mr. Awuah’s contributions reaffirm the transformative power of education as a cornerstone for societal progress and sustainable development.
Mr. Evans has pioneered and mobilized a global movement to address poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation, according to his citation.
His Global Citizen program has galvanized collective action, securing over $43.6 billion in commitments to help more than 1.3 billion people worldwide. By leveraging digital platforms to inspire action, he has redefined global citizenship, demonstrating the extraordinary potential of unity in confronting humanity’s most pressing challenges.
Mr. Evans’ work exemplifies how international collaboration creates a more equitable and sustainable future for all, Sunkhak Prize officials said.
Ms. Mathai has created an all-encompassing model for sustainable development across Africa.
Through the Green Belt Movement, she facilitated the planting of over 51 million trees, addressing deforestation and soil erosion while empowering communities and advancing women’s economic self-reliance. Her leadership in the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100) aims to restore nearly 250 million acres of degraded land by 2030, combating climate change. Her work seeks a balance between sustainable development, prosperity and the needs of the environment.
Under the motto “Making the world better for future generations,” the Sunhak Peace Prize is bestowed biennially on individuals and organizations that contribute to global peace. Its name, “Sunhak,” is a portmanteau of the names of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon.
The Rev. Moon was also the founder of the Unification Church. An arm of the church is the parent company of The Washington Times.
The prize was established in 2013 by the latter to honor and to advance the peacemaking leadership of the former, who passed away in 2012. The first Sunhak laureates were awarded in 2015.
• Andrew Salmon can be reached at asalmon@washingtontimes.com.