MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Nov. 13 (PIA) --- More than 13,000 children from
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will simultaneously fly
their kites from their assigned areas on November 25 to amplify their
stand against violence and armed conflict.
The Department
of Education (DepED)-ARMM, in partnership with the Coordinating and
Development Office of the Bangsamoro Youth Affairs (CDO-BYA), organized
the kite flying activity to help advocate children’s rights and as part
of the 25th founding anniversary of the ARMM.
The activity
is also being supported by the Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN),
Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Partylist, and the Coalition of Organization for
Reform and Empowerment (CORE-ARMM).
Leah Tarhata Mehila,
YMPN coordinator and secretariat, said the “Kites for Peace” in the ARMM
is a collaborative activity to convey the message of peace, especially
among the most vulnerable sector in conflict areas, the children.
“We
also wish to set up a new record as to the most number of children who
will fly kites simultaneously and surpass the Guiness World Record
holder, Gaza, Palestine, with 13,000 kids in 2011,” she said.
Regional
Governor Mujiv S. Hataman will lead the kite flying at the ARMM
compound in Cotabato City, a major venue for the event, which is also
the kick-off day for the Mindanao Week of Peace, a part of the ARMM’s
silver jubilee celebration.
Apart from the open spaces
along school premises, the activity will be simultaneously held all over
the ARMM, to include the Mindanao State University oval in Marawi
City, Lanao del Sur; DepED oval in Tawi-tawi; Capitol grounds in Sulu;
Lamitan National High School ground in Basilan; and MSU-Dalican in
Maguindanao .
A memorandum has been issued by the
DepED-ARMM to ensure mass participation of the 2,000 public elementary
schools within the autonomous region.
Pupils from grade 3 to 6 are enjoined to take part in the activity with at least 10 kites for each section.
ARMM
line agencies, local government officials, peace stakeholders, civil
society organizations, youth groups, and representatives from the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front have expressed their support and participation
in the event. (Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/PIA-10)
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