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| Stories of Healing, Organizing, Participation and Empowerment (HOPE) highlights the "Kalilang: Festival of Friendship" wherein the successes of Marawi Response Project's (MRP) beneficiaries were shared with the hope of inspiring others. The discussion centered on the project's achievements in economic recovery, youth empowerment, response to gender-based violence, and sustainability. (Pamela Joyce Fumero/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur) |
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--An official of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) highlighted the wins of the Marawi Response Project (MRP) in aiding the recovery of Marawi and advancing women and youth empowerment as well as gender equality in the Lanao area.
In her message during the MRP closeout ceremony, Monday, November 28, USAID Philippines Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks said the project has restored economic activity after the conflict, upgraded community infrastructure, opened spaces for citizen participation and governance, harnessed youth power, and advanced women empowerment.
Recalling how the project started in October 2018, Eubanks said MRP has achieved so much in the last four years.
"Working in 24 localities in Lanao, Marawi Response provided livelihood opportunities to cover 10,000 citizens and strengthen agricultural value chains such as coffee, high-value vegetables, and tilapia farming, partnering with local private sector associations such as the Bangon Marawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Our partnership also assisted over 5,000 people to find gainful and decent employment through workforce development training programs," she said.
The USAID Deputy Mission Director highlighted such collective efforts to improve economic conditions after the violent conflict helped raise the income and savings of partner communities.
Recognizing that violent conflict disrupts economic and social systems, Eubanks said USAID also invested in activities that strengthened social bonds, particularly working with displaced citizens.
She cited that MRP upgraded irrigation and agricultural facilities, installed solar street lights, organized youth events, and even convened town halls with partner local governments. These, she said, solved not only community problems but also strengthened the connectedness and solidarity of displaced citizens and their host communities.
"Together with our local partners, MARADECA and ECOWEB, we organized close to 700 community solidarity groups, and I'm thrilled to see that more than half of these are headed by women. I also want to recognize the 72 youth groups we helped established and are now creating a positive impact in their communities," she further said.
Eubanks emphasized that the success of the project would not be possible without the support of the Philippine government which ensure the meaningful participation of displaced communities in local governance, the private sector partners who helped in improving economic conditions, the civil society organizations and community leaders for giving voice to the marginalized citizens, and the Lanao people for their courage and perseverance to continue walking the path to self-reliance.
She hopes that the gains achieved will motivate the people of Lanao to keep moving forward adding that their stories serve as an inspiration to all and that USAID will continue to support their journey to full recovery. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
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