MARAWI
CITY, Lanao del Sur, June 4 (PIA) --- Approximately 400 youths from
different parts of Mindanao are taking part in the first Bangsamoro
Youth Hope Conference hosted jointly by the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) through its Coordinating and Development Office on
Bangsamoro Youth Affairs (CDO-BYA) and the Gawad Kalinga (GK) in
Cotabato City.
Isa Tom del Monte, CDO-BYA executive
director, said the three-day conference, which started Tuesday and will
culminate today, 04 June, will equip the participating youths with the
knowledge to be prime movers of the nation in the future.
He said activity will help them prepare “to build peace and a future full of hope for the next generation.”
The
conference is a joint project of the ARMM and GK with participants
coming from the regions of the ARMM, Socksargen and Davao, the province
of Lanao del Norte and in Zamboanga Peninsula.
GK is a
nongovernmental movement that aims to eradicate poverty and restore
human dignity among the poor. It is currently active in over 2,000
communities nationwide and has been recognized as 2006 Ramon Magsaysay
Awardee and 2012 Skoll Awardee for Social Entrepreneurship.
Luis
Oquinena, GK executive director, said the conference will provide the
participants with knowledge in nation-building, poverty eradication, and
on the means to contribute to peace and development in Mindanao.
“Young
as you are, we are inviting you to have the courage to dream for a
better future. Being successful is helping others succeed,” he said.
Among
the participants is Nurfaisa Hasalal, a 20-year old Yakan from Ungkaya
Pukan town in Basilan. She said the conference helps “awaken the minds
of the youth about the role we hold in the peace and development of
Mindanao.”
Hasalal, a fellow of the Basilan Young Leaders
Program (BYLP) – a program backed by ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, said
it also widens their understanding about the youth’s role in nation
building and in poverty eradication.
“Kahit kabataan, may
maitutulong. Maliit man o malaki ang kontribusyon natin, magiging
opportunity pa rin ito para makatulong tayo sa ating bansa (We can help
even if we’re young. Great or small our contributions may be, it will
still become an opportunity to help our country),” Hasalal said.
The
participants will draft the Bangsamoro youth declaration that will
serve as their commitment and action plan to apply what they learn in
the conference in their respective communities upon their return.
Dayanara
Aming, 21 and an active member of the Tawi-Tawi Youth Network, said the
guiding principle of the conference helps educate and build hope for
the youth.
“Napakaganda ng guiding principle ng conference
kasi naeencourage niya ang mga kabataan na gumalaw para sa kaunlaran ng
ating bansa (The guiding principle of the conference encourages the
youth to contribute to the development of our country),” Aming
said. (Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)
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