The campaign leads up to the 15th Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture, taking place on Thursday, 20 November at the Cape Town International Convention Centre under the theme Faith, Conflict, and Our Shared Humanity in a Fractured World, says the foundation.

The 2025 Lecture will be delivered by Dr Shashi Tharoor, acclaimed author, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Member of Parliament in India, who will explore how faith, morality and global leadership can build bridges across division. The Lecture gathers thousands of thought leaders, youth, and the public to reflect on what it means to pursue peace through justice, empathy and action. Headlining the event, composer, vocalist and trumpeter Mandisi Dyantyis will perform live, setting the tone for an evening that bridges faith and humanity through music, adds the foundation.

The 'Letters of Peace' initiative is inspired by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu's enduring message that, "Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, love, and action." 'Letters of Peace' invites creators, thinkers and changemakers to express what peace means to them, in their own way, says the foundation.

From handwritten letters and spoken word to visual art, video or digital posts, every submission becomes part of a living Peace Wall, a digital mosaic that will grow in the weeks leading up to the Lecture. The Peace Wall will be revealed live at the event, reflecting a chorus of voices from across South Africa and the world, adds the foundation.

"This is not a social media campaign, it's a civic act of conscience," says Janet Jobson, CEO of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. "Archbishop Tutu taught us that peace requires participation. 'Letters of Peace' is a chance for everyone, from artists, changemakers, content creators to students to parents to speak from the heart and show what justice, compassion and courage look like in their everyday lives."

Participants are encouraged to share their messages of peace using '#LettersOfPeace', or to submit their contributions directly via the Foundation's website. According to the foundation, submissions can take any form, a few lines of reflection, a poem, an artwork, a recording, or even a single sentence beginning with one of the following prompts:

  • "Dear World, peace to me means…"
  • "If Archbishop Tutu were here today, I'd tell him…"
  • "Peace begins when…"
  • "My Letter of Peace is for…"

Each letter contributes to a collective call for hope, reminding the world that the pursuit of peace begins with empathy, honesty and action, says the foundation.

Jobson says that as the world faces deep division and conflict, 'Letters for Peace' reclaims the act of communication as a moral gesture, one that bridges differences and celebrates our shared humanity.

How to Participate

  • Create your 'Letter Of Peace', either written, spoken, visual or digital.
  • Upload it via the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation website or tag on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn with '#LettersOfPeace', '#PeaceInAction' on social media.
  • Watch your message become part of the global Peace Wall, unveiled at the 2025 Peace Lecture on Thursday, 20 November. 

For more information, visit www.tutu.org.za. You can also follow the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor