Asia America Initiative
Encyclopedia
Asia America Initiative is a non-profit, non-governmental organization
with its headquarters in Washington, D.C.
and field offices in Manila
and war-torn Mindanao
in the Philippines
. It is dedicated to building international model programs to provide humanitarian aid in under-served communities, improve the quality of public education and promote sustainable agriculture and other forms of livelihood. The aim of AAI is to promote democratic ideals, neutralize corruption and ineffective governance as a means to strengthen international security
and mediate in conflict-plagued areas throughout the Asia-Pacific
region.
To start the non-profit organization with a tax-exempt umbrella to receive contributions, Mr. Santoli became Senior Vice-President of the American Foreign Policy Council
(AFPC) n Washington. Under the directive of the AFPC, AAI was formerly known as the Asia-Pacific Initiative. In 2004, the organization changed its name to Asia America Initiative and officially established itself as an independent nonprofit organization
. It has since continued its work in providing humanitarian aid
, conducting policy forums, and publishing strategic reports.
AAI operations are rooted in the belief that international security
and the defense of human rights
are inseparable. Therefore, victory over terrorist movements requires the foresight to provide humanitarian assistance in at-risk, impoverished communities. As a catalyst for policy innovation, AAI's field programs deliver direct aid to populations in need. By integrating human rights
, civil society
, and livelihood
skills as key components for peace
mediation, AAI aims to empower communities on the front line of terror to deter violence
by building hope
.
in the Sulu Province of the Philippines
. Because of the persistent violence caused by militia groups, the area remains one of the most impoverished in the country.; The Development for Peace in Sulu (DPIS) program was created as a model for grassroots development to establish sustainable peace in an area long-plagued by conflict and terror. AAI has partnered with local community leaders to provide material assistance and training in order to improve the health, education, and livelihood opportunities in the region;.
During the first full of peace-building operations, the level of violence and inter-religious hostilities in Jolo dramatically reduced, Working with Community leaders and forming committees to address the critical needs of communities DPIS program received a 2003 Presidential Citation from Philippines
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
for providing over $3 million dollars in medical and educational assistance to the poverty-stricken community of Muslim Mindanao.;
The Peace Caravan acts as a form of non-traditional education and peace mediation. Participants often grew up with fixed ideas and rarely associated with people from other cultures and religious, and many come from conflict-ridden areas. The Peace Caravan program, therefore, seeks to help them find common ground with participants from other backgrounds and challenge divisive beliefs that are perpetuated by conflict and poverty. For example, in a standard trauma counseling "game" activity, students are asked to draw pictures of what Peace means to them ;. Catalysts for Peace then guide discussions using student-produced imagery to help find commonalities and produce understanding regarding the concept of peace.
Initial Gardens of Peace were situated in schoolyards and model farms of cooperatives within Lanao del Sur. Through the contributions of donors and partners, tons of seeds and agricultural technology were provided to these sites. The first phase was initiated in December 2008, and the second shipment of vegetables and flower seeds occurred in February 2009. A third shipment was carried out in April 2009. Through monitoring these sites, AAI has discovered that the Gardens of Peace have flourished and are well-maintained by the local communities.
In order to ensure sustainability, AAI launched an orientation program for the effective and transparent monitoring and evaluation of its programs in Lanau del Sur, including the Gardens of Peace, in August 2009.
It is AAI's belief that the Gardens of Peace project, which not only produces vegetables for the nutritional needs of the locals but also flowers that beautify their environment, has been successful in bringing about positive social and economic changes within the communities that have been part of the program.
region of the Philippines. Schools and individuals worldwide can “adopt” a classroom by donating money or school supplies. These gifts are then sent directly to schools in Jolo, helping to improve the education system and to build hope in the war-torn and impoverished community.
, funding for the food, shelter, and education of Burmese
orphans in Thailand
, and an emergency airlift of medical supplies to victims of the devastating 2005 Pakistan earthquake.
AAI also works to support activists and political prisoner
s dedicated to the cause of universal human rights
. Notable efforts have included:
. In July 2005, Director Al Santoli offered testimony at a U.S.-China Commission hearing on China's Growing Global Influence. The hearing examined China's influence and activity around the world, its energy policy
, and its direct and indirect effects on U.S. interests.
AAI has also hosted a number of policy forums with international security experts and political officials touching on issues ranging from Nepal
’s Maoist insurgency to the inner workings of North Korea
.
Asia In Focus analyzes developments in security
, politics
and related social and economic issues that impact the stability of the region. In addition, this publication highlights how strategic setbacks in Central Asia
can be avoided and how emerging local and international trends have a direct influence on the root causes of terrorism and the flow of arms from the Silk Road
to the Southeast Asian island nations.
China In Focus monitors reforms in the People's Republic of China
and the issues in Sino-American relations
. The report also analyzes China’s rapid economic development
and its social and strategic implications.
is the founder and president of AAI, a New York Times best-selling author, a nominee for both the Pulitzer Prize
and American Book Award
for History, and editor of AAI’s “In Focus” publications. Over three decades - as a historian, journalist, soldier, national security advisor in the U.S. Congress, human rights monitor, and as a foreign policy expert - Mr. Santoli has directly participated in seeking solutions to some of the most dramatic and complex events that have shaped U.S.-Asian relations.
Rohaniza Sumndad is the Country Director and Coordinator of the AAI Philippines office. She is a 2003 alumus of the Ayala Young Leaders Congress.;
AAI also conducts an active Education/Mentoring Program, maintaining a team of interns in its Washington, D.C. office for three to five month residencies. Its operations and programs in the Philippines are mainly conducted by volunteers from schools and universities in the country.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
with its headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and field offices in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
and war-torn Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It is dedicated to building international model programs to provide humanitarian aid in under-served communities, improve the quality of public education and promote sustainable agriculture and other forms of livelihood. The aim of AAI is to promote democratic ideals, neutralize corruption and ineffective governance as a means to strengthen international security
International security
International security consists of the measures taken by nations and international organizations, such as the United Nations, to ensure mutual survival and safety. These measures include military action and diplomatic agreements such as treaties and conventions. International and national security...
and mediate in conflict-plagued areas throughout the Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific or Asia Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean...
region.
History and Mission
Asia America Initiative (AAI) was founded in 2002 by Albert Santoli, who is a best-selling author of history, a Vietnam war veteran and experienced humanitarian relief provider. Within the year following the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Mr. Santoli resigned from his position as an international policy advisor in the U.S. Congress to create a non-profit humanitarian organization to address inter-cultural and inter-religious hostilities that could be replicated in numerous countries. He utilized lessons leaned from his many years of experience in reporting and humanitarian intervention in areas of armed conflict to create methodologies that could be an alternative to an over-reliance on military force to deter recruitment tactics of terror organizations.To start the non-profit organization with a tax-exempt umbrella to receive contributions, Mr. Santoli became Senior Vice-President of the American Foreign Policy Council
American Foreign Policy Council
The American Foreign Policy Council is a conservative non-profit U.S. foreign policy think tank operating in Washington, D.C., since 1982...
(AFPC) n Washington. Under the directive of the AFPC, AAI was formerly known as the Asia-Pacific Initiative. In 2004, the organization changed its name to Asia America Initiative and officially established itself as an independent nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
. It has since continued its work in providing humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
, conducting policy forums, and publishing strategic reports.
AAI operations are rooted in the belief that international security
International security
International security consists of the measures taken by nations and international organizations, such as the United Nations, to ensure mutual survival and safety. These measures include military action and diplomatic agreements such as treaties and conventions. International and national security...
and the defense of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
are inseparable. Therefore, victory over terrorist movements requires the foresight to provide humanitarian assistance in at-risk, impoverished communities. As a catalyst for policy innovation, AAI's field programs deliver direct aid to populations in need. By integrating human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
, and livelihood
Livelihood
A person's livelihood referers to "means of securing the necessities of life". For instance a fisherman's livelihood depends on the availability and accessibility of fish.- In social sciences :...
skills as key components for peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
mediation, AAI aims to empower communities on the front line of terror to deter violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
by building hope
Hope
Hope is the emotional state which promotes the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. It is the "feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best" or the act of "look[ing] forward to with desire and reasonable confidence" or...
.
Development for Peace in Sulu
In 2002, AAI began working in the Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoAutonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is the region, located in the Mindanao island group of the Philippines, that is composed of predominantly Muslim provinces, namely: Basilan , Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. It is the only region that has its own government...
in the Sulu Province of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Because of the persistent violence caused by militia groups, the area remains one of the most impoverished in the country.; The Development for Peace in Sulu (DPIS) program was created as a model for grassroots development to establish sustainable peace in an area long-plagued by conflict and terror. AAI has partnered with local community leaders to provide material assistance and training in order to improve the health, education, and livelihood opportunities in the region;.
During the first full of peace-building operations, the level of violence and inter-religious hostilities in Jolo dramatically reduced, Working with Community leaders and forming committees to address the critical needs of communities DPIS program received a 2003 Presidential Citation from Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
for providing over $3 million dollars in medical and educational assistance to the poverty-stricken community of Muslim Mindanao.;
Peace Caravan
AAI conducts a Peace Caravan program aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding among children. Peace Caravan activities are usually run by a dedicated team of volunteers called Catalysts for Peace, and there are currently over 500 Catalysts for Peace in Manila and Mindanao. The program brings together students from different socioeconomic and religious backgrounds through fun activities, music, and group discussions.The Peace Caravan acts as a form of non-traditional education and peace mediation. Participants often grew up with fixed ideas and rarely associated with people from other cultures and religious, and many come from conflict-ridden areas. The Peace Caravan program, therefore, seeks to help them find common ground with participants from other backgrounds and challenge divisive beliefs that are perpetuated by conflict and poverty. For example, in a standard trauma counseling "game" activity, students are asked to draw pictures of what Peace means to them ;. Catalysts for Peace then guide discussions using student-produced imagery to help find commonalities and produce understanding regarding the concept of peace.
Gardens of Peace
While Mindanao is an agricultural "rice basket" in the Philippines, conflict and poverty have prevented locals from utilizing their land and producing enough food for themselves and other communities. Gardens of Peace was organized in order to improve the livelihood and economic stability of Mindanaoans and provide them with nutritious sources of food and vegetables. In addition, it would help to train them to be the catalysts of their own personal, social, economic, spiritual and moral development through engagement in the process of research or situational analysis, planning, implementation, and even in the evaluation with Lanao del Sur as the pilot site for the project. About 2.3 million packets of seeds were to be distributed to this and future sites.Initial Gardens of Peace were situated in schoolyards and model farms of cooperatives within Lanao del Sur. Through the contributions of donors and partners, tons of seeds and agricultural technology were provided to these sites. The first phase was initiated in December 2008, and the second shipment of vegetables and flower seeds occurred in February 2009. A third shipment was carried out in April 2009. Through monitoring these sites, AAI has discovered that the Gardens of Peace have flourished and are well-maintained by the local communities.
In order to ensure sustainability, AAI launched an orientation program for the effective and transparent monitoring and evaluation of its programs in Lanau del Sur, including the Gardens of Peace, in August 2009.
It is AAI's belief that the Gardens of Peace project, which not only produces vegetables for the nutritional needs of the locals but also flowers that beautify their environment, has been successful in bringing about positive social and economic changes within the communities that have been part of the program.
Adopt a Classroom
The Adopt a Classroom project is a joint collaboration between AAI and the Muslim Women’s Coalition that provides direct support for 25,000 students in more than a dozen schools throughout the JoloJolo
Jolo may refer to:* Jolo Island* Jolo, Sulu* Jolo, West Virginia* Jolo is also the nickname of Swedish author Jan Olof Olsson....
region of the Philippines. Schools and individuals worldwide can “adopt” a classroom by donating money or school supplies. These gifts are then sent directly to schools in Jolo, helping to improve the education system and to build hope in the war-torn and impoverished community.
Human Rights
In response to urgent crises throughout the Asia-Pacific region, AAI partners with other non-governmental organizations to provide humanitarian relief. Past projects have provided medical supplies and HIV/AIDS medicine to CambodiaCambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, funding for the food, shelter, and education of Burmese
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
orphans in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, and an emergency airlift of medical supplies to victims of the devastating 2005 Pakistan earthquake.
AAI also works to support activists and political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
s dedicated to the cause of universal human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. Notable efforts have included:
- Nominating Dr. Nguyen Dan QueNguyen Dan QueNguyen Dan Que, M.D. , also known as Nguyen Chau , is a Vietnamese endocrinologist and pro-democracy campaigner. He is one of the leading dissidents against the communist government in Vietnam....
for the Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace PrizeThe Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
for his efforts to promote democracy, peace, human rights in VietnamVietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –... - Writing a letter to Chinese President Jiang ZeminJiang ZeminJiang Zemin is a former Chinese politician, who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China from 1989 to 2002, as President of the People's Republic of China from 1993 to 2003, and as Chairman of the Central Military Commission from 1989 to 2005...
demanding the release of democracy activist Dr. Yang JianliYang JianliYang Jianli is a Chinese dissident with United States residency.Yang, a Tiananmen Square activist in 1989, came to the United States, earned two Ph.D.s , and then founded the Foundation for China in the 21st Century... - Conducting an interview with former Tibetan activist and Chinese political prisoner Ms. Ngawang SangdrolNgawang SangdrolNgawang Sangdrol is a former political prisoner, imprisoned by the Government of the People's Republic of China, for peacefully demonstrating against the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1992...
Policy Forums
AAI participates in a number of events dealing with security in the Pacific RimPacific Rim
The Pacific Rim refers to places around the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The term "Pacific Basin" includes the Pacific Rim and islands in the Pacific Ocean...
. In July 2005, Director Al Santoli offered testimony at a U.S.-China Commission hearing on China's Growing Global Influence. The hearing examined China's influence and activity around the world, its energy policy
Energy policy
Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity has decided to address issues of energy development including energy production, distribution and consumption...
, and its direct and indirect effects on U.S. interests.
AAI has also hosted a number of policy forums with international security experts and political officials touching on issues ranging from Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
’s Maoist insurgency to the inner workings of North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
.
Publications
AAI publishes strategic reports that focus on developments and emerging security threats throughout the Asia-Pacific region.Asia In Focus analyzes developments in security
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
, politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
and related social and economic issues that impact the stability of the region. In addition, this publication highlights how strategic setbacks in Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
can be avoided and how emerging local and international trends have a direct influence on the root causes of terrorism and the flow of arms from the Silk Road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
to the Southeast Asian island nations.
China In Focus monitors reforms in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and the issues in Sino-American relations
Sino-American relations
For the article on U.S.-Taiwan relations, see Republic of China – United States relations.Sino-American or People's Republic of China–United States relations refers to international relations between the United States of America and the government of People's Republic of China...
. The report also analyzes China’s rapid economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
and its social and strategic implications.
Staff
Al SantoliAl Santoli
Albert Santoli is a decorated Vietnam veteran, author and founder of the Asia America Initiative, best known for his book, Everything We Had: An Oral History of the Vietnam War...
is the founder and president of AAI, a New York Times best-selling author, a nominee for both the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
and American Book Award
American Book Award
The American Book Award was established in 1978 by the Before Columbus Foundation. It seeks to recognize outstanding literary achievement by contemporary American authors, without restriction to race, sex, ethnic background, or genre...
for History, and editor of AAI’s “In Focus” publications. Over three decades - as a historian, journalist, soldier, national security advisor in the U.S. Congress, human rights monitor, and as a foreign policy expert - Mr. Santoli has directly participated in seeking solutions to some of the most dramatic and complex events that have shaped U.S.-Asian relations.
Rohaniza Sumndad is the Country Director and Coordinator of the AAI Philippines office. She is a 2003 alumus of the Ayala Young Leaders Congress.;
AAI also conducts an active Education/Mentoring Program, maintaining a team of interns in its Washington, D.C. office for three to five month residencies. Its operations and programs in the Philippines are mainly conducted by volunteers from schools and universities in the country.