December was a packed month for the Peace Promotion Fellows (PPF) as they led in organizing projects in their respective communities, part of their 6-month fellowship with Equal Access International-Philippines.
Eight more fellows successfully launched their project across Mindanao, and in preparation for their project presentation this February during the OURmindaNOW Summit 2020 in Cagayan de Oro City.
Ashley Dejarme’s “In the Loop Initiative,” which gathered artistic youth leaders in the region for this youth-centered, culturally-sensitive, and artistic approach to peace advocacy that will tackle prevention and transformation of violent extremism, tri-people representation, and peace education starting with a pilot program called the Peace Education Symposium, happened last December 7 at the Ateneo de Davao University.
In Northern Mindanao, Jetro Resonar’s “Balik Lantaw” and Rowel Damas’ “Teen Trail for Peace” were successfully implemented in Tagoloan and Cagayan de Oro respectively. Balik Lantaw aims to raise the awareness of selected in-school youth about cultural sensitivity, the Tri-People of the island, and the Ethno-history of Mindanao while the Teen Trail for Peace involved university student government in creating resolutions on cultural stigmatization in schools as a precautionary measure that supports the prevention of VEO recruitment in universities.
Meanwhile, participants of Delilah Luzon’s “BukidKNOWN” were in for a treat as they were brought to the Talaandig communities of Bukidnon as part of her awareness campaign and intercultural exchange program that fosters understanding of co-existence and social cohesion as a method in preventing and transforming violent extremism.
Peace promotion fellows from Maguindanao also implemented their projects that aimed to promote peace. Mohammad Usop Sugadol’s “Peacesonality” in Cotabato City focused on developing positive mental attitude among at-risk youth in his project focusing on personality development while Nishreen Hashim’s “Project ComMUnity” in Sultan Kudarat brought together community members and local government members to strengthen their collaboration as co-equal peace actors.
Other peace projects of the fellows went as far south as Jolo, Sulu where Ayesha Warid implemented “Pag Iskul Ha” which focused on providing safe spaces for children to learn peace education and resist violence by expressing themselves through a reading enhancement manual which also works to enhance their skills in the English language.
Huda Aldanie’s “SUSTAINable YOUth” project also gathered participants from Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo and introduced them to the global perspective of peacebuilding. Her initiative also aimed to promote sustainable livelihood programs and produce a series of activities intended to build community resilience.
The fellows were given a seed-funding through the Peace Promotion Fellowship program and will be presenting their project outputs and outcomes during the Summit 2020
