Joshua's transformation from violence to peace champion

“In 2019, there were three women who were accused by the entire community for practicing sorcery. I chopped and burnt the women alive. Two escaped and one died, I was responsible for her death”, Joshua Paul confesses.

This is the story of a young man’s journey from being a perpetrator of violence to becoming a champion of peace in Tulum 1 and 2. Today, he is entrusted by his people as a Ward Councillor, leading his community toward positive change.

Once known as Paul Bernard, Joshua was feared throughout Tulum. He was associated with violence, drugs, and chaos; a reputation that kept people at a distance. Nothing seemed to matter more than the fear he created.

At just twenty-five years old, Paul was already deeply involved in violent acts, including the killing of a woman accused of sorcery. This was one of many brutal incidents that marked his past.

His turning point came when he was introduced to World Vision International’s Faith in Action for Peace project in the Mendi-Munihu District of Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. Through this initiative, he participated in the Empowered World View (EWV) training, a faith-based approach encouraging individuals and communities to reflect on their beliefs, mindsets, and behaviours considering scriptures and God’s plan.

In Tulum, the program was implemented in close partnership with faith leaders from nine different churches. Among them was Stanley Hup, a 50-year-old catechist serving Tulum 1 and 2 under the Catholic Diocese of Mendi. For years, Stanley had witnessed widespread violence in the community.

“Cases of rape, fighting, and sorcery-related accusations were common. Fear dominated the community, and many people including church members were afraid to intervene for their own safety,” Stanley recalls.

At one tragic point, three women were accused of sorcery and attacked by Paul and a group of youths. Following this incident, many church members, including Stanley, were excluded from receiving communion and participating in church activities because they had not intervened. This deeply affected both the church and the wider community.

The first EWV training was conducted with faith leaders, including Paul. After completing the training, these leaders became facilitators, extending the program to young people through two established youth clubs.

The first EWV training was conducted with faith leaders, including Paul. After completing the training, these leaders became facilitators, extending the program to young people through two established youth clubs.

World Vision Papua New Guinea with funding support from World Vision USA, intervened at a critical time when violence in Tulum was unpredictable and escalating. Project Coordinator, Mapera Angu, led the team into the community with a vision for lasting peace.

For Stanley, the transformation was deeply personal. Paul is his nephew.

With emotion in his voice, he shares, “Joshua is my nephew, the son of my third-born brother. I have served the Catholic mission for many years, and I have witnessed his transformation. It was God’s intervention through World Vision. He once led some of the most violent activities we have experienced in this community.”

As Paul embraced change and chose a path of peace, his life took on new meaning. He publicly testified in church and chose a new name Joshua, which is a biblical symbol of hope and promise.

“In the Bible, Moses led the Israelites in the desert for forty years, but they did not reach the Promised Land until Joshua led them. That is why he chose the name Joshua, to lead Tulum 1 and 2 toward a better future,” Stanley explains.

Recognizing his transformation, the people of Tulum nominated him to contest the Ward Councillor’s seat. His appointment is a powerful reflection of the trust he has rebuilt within his community.

Now 32 years old, Joshua is married and a father to a young son. His past no longer defines him, instead it guides his commitment to building a better future for his family and community.Through years of unrest and youth‑driven violence, Stanley remained a steady voice of guidance and hope in his community.

“Our community was known for drugs and violence. Homes were burned, and women were raped. When I joined the training by World Vision PNG, I was filled with regret and sadness for what I had done. This project gave me a chance to change my mindset and behaviour. It also gave me the opportunity to work in my own community and advocate for the change I want to see,” he says.

Joshua’s transformation has inspired others, especially the youth. Once involved in destructive activities, he now works alongside young men to uproot marijuana plots and replace them with rice farming; an initiative that has already produced its first harvest.

Today, Joshua continues to serve as a facilitator in the Empowered World View program, guiding youth through the same journey of reflection and change that transformed his life.

“I once led youths to do terrible things. But when I fully understood what was taught in this project, I felt a strong conviction to turn away from my old ways. When I changed, the youths I spent time with also changed. This project is the reason I am now the Ward Councillor,” Joshua reflects.

What were once hotspots of fear and violence are now fields of purpose and pride. Youth in Tulum are turning away from harmful behaviours and engaging in productive livelihoods, including climate-resilient farming to improve food security and generate income.

A total of 47 youths consisting of 32 males and 15 females are now part of this transformation. Sermons in the community increasingly reflect the Empowered World View teachings, reinforcing values of faith, leadership, and responsibility.

In Tulum today, families feel safer, and children are growing up surrounded by positive role models. Under Joshua’s leadership, the community is steadily becoming a model of peace and progress in the Southern Highlands Province.