Six months ago, Equal Access International-Philippines launched the Peace Promotion Fellowship (PPF) and welcomed peace fellows from the different part of Mindanao, who would later take the challenge of implementing peace projects in their respective communities.
The OURmindaNOW Summit on January 30-February 1, 2020, in Cagayan de Oro City became a venue for the 11 Peace Fellows to share their peace advocacies. They underwent a three-day learning and workshop sessions and took part in the summit’s culmination by presenting their projects’ milestones in front of EAI stakeholders, development and media partners, donors and guests.
“Equal Access International opened the doors for me, and it gave birth to BUKIDKNOWN,” shared Delilah Luzon, one of the Peace Fellows who is championing peace through travel and tourism in indigenous peoples’ communities in Bukidnon.
With the help of some experts and resource persons from youth-led organizations in Mindanao, Peace Fellows had a chance to hear some suggestions on how to scale up their projects as well as how to strengthen their sustainability plans.
On scaling up PPF projects
After the PPF launching in July 2019, fellows started their respective projects in their chosen communities with the monetary grant from EAI. The initial challenge was on how they would implement effectively their activities. In order to strengthen them personally, they undergo mentoring sessions, volunteering in their host organizations, participating in the webinar sessions and submitting monthly reports, among others.
Mr. Kiko Miranda, the founding director of SUGPAT Philippines, a project that addresses the concern of the growing number of out-of-school youth in Zamboanga City, shared useful tips to the fellows in keeping their passion burning and scaling up their projects.
“Scaling up is building up on what your started and unleashing its untapped potentials. It is important to have evidence-based research and strategic planning process. Scaling up needs a hard science. Additionally, it is wise to address the gaps while strengthening the best practices”, said Kiko Miranda during one of his sessions with the Peace Fellows.
The fellows went on to creating one-year sustainability maps for their projects and afterwards proceeded to project updating and interactive discussion.
Meanwhile, Nina Lewis, US Embassy-Philippines Cultural Affairs Officer, talked about keeping the passion going. As young peace influencers, she reminded them on three important things: prioritizing, building a great time and life balance.
“There’s so much to do about peace. At some point, you go out of the role of being a youth leader because you are no longer youth. Your peace advocacy can change, your niche can change and it is okay”, Nina said in one of her sessions with the fellows.
On building more project milestones
The culmination focused on the fellows’ reflection as a key component in the experiential learning process and their personal significant change stories with their communities.
Their PPF journey though does not stop here. They have committed to continue their peacebuilding efforts in the coming months, reach more individuals and communities and stand as a living proof that the youth have the power of being active agents in peace promotion through social initiatives.
“I became the person I dreamed of as a peace advocate. EAI provided me that platform to tell my story of hope and resilience as an individual who has experienced growing up in conflict-affected areas. I am glad to be a symbol of hope and peace in my community,” said Ayesha Warid, one of the 11 Peace Fellows who implements peace and educational activities for internally-displaced children in Sulu.
Get to know briefly the peace projects of our fellows:
Lo Ivan Castillon, Bangsamoro Youth Peacebuilding, Cotabato City Intends to capacitate and empower youth leaders from orphanages schools, organizations to become peacebuilders.
Mohammad Usop Sugadol, PEACEsonality, Cotabato City Uses personality development strategies among the youth to improve one’s personality and by teaching them to perceive things with positivity.
Shania Ashley Dejarme, Art Meet Advocacy, Davao City Discusses Mindanao issues: violent extremism, identities and peace education through art advocacy.
Nurul-Aine Eldani, BangsaKulToura, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Promotes peace by understanding Bangsamoro cultures, history and narratives of the local people in Mindanao through online-offline educational tour campaign.
Nishreen Hashim, Project ComMUnity, Kabuntalan, Maguindanao Uses dialogue and communication to strengthen the cooperation of the community and barangay officials in PTVE. (FB:
Jetro Resonar, Balik Lantaw, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental Tackles tri-people and conflict history of Mindanao through a peer-to-peer approach among students and capacitate them as young peace influencers.
France Ruzzel Donoso, Pagmata, Del Carmen, Siargao, Surigao del Norte Discusses the importance of the family in promoting and building peace in the community through an interactive radio program.
Ayesha Warid, Pag Iskul Ha, Patikul, Sulu Initiates peace educational activities for internally displaced children who are in tent-based evacuation centers.
Huda Aldanie, Project Edukasyon 2030, Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo Aims to develop a sustainable education roadmap that adopts a lifelong learning approach in promoting sustainable development contributing to an inclusive and peaceful society.
Jose Rowel Damas, Teen Trail for Peace, Cagayan de Oro City Implements Inter-faith and Inter-cultural exchange awareness campaign to understand the need of having cultural sensitivity towards others through workshops, talk and forums.
Maria Delilah Luzon, BukidKnown, Kalilangan, Buikdnon Implements intercultural exchange campaign to understand co-existence and social cohesion as a method of peace building through immersion, empowering cultural communities and meaningful travel./Cye Ybañez & Irish Jane Calungsod
