Asia America Initiative works to promote democratic ideals, utilizing
sustainable grassroots social and economic development to defuse
violence in conflict-plagued areas throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Families forced to flee armed conflict in the Mindanao region of the Philippines received much-needed medical and humanitarian supplies from a group that also launched a gardening for peace project in local public schools.
Despite the Monday break down of peace talks and revival of a decades-long conflict in the southern Philippines, this region "has great economic and social potential as the 'rice basket of the Philippines,'" writes Asia America Initiative director Al Santoli.