MARAWI CITY (PIA) — Relief International, in partnership with the United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), recently conducted a training of trainers on the culture of peace as part of the “WaY to Peace” project. This initiative aims to engage women and youth in peacebuilding efforts, recognizing their crucial role in fostering harmonious communities.
The training brought together 35 young individuals from seven barangays in Balindong municipality, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to promote peace within their communities.
Project Manager Noel Biadnes emphasized the importance of involving youth and women in peacebuilding initiatives.
“This project specifically targets these sectors because they are often underrepresented in peace discussions,” he said, adding that their goal is to empower them to become catalysts for change.
The training covered various essential peacebuilding topics, including understanding the concept of peace, the factors contributing to conflict, and the importance of a culture of peace. Participants also learned how to identify the root causes of conflicts within their communities through a problem tree analysis.
To equip them with practical skills, the training focused on effective communication, dialogue, and negotiation strategies for peaceful conflict resolution.
Biadnes clarified that the training was not a one-time event but a step towards building the capacity of youth to become peacebuilders in their communities.
“Upon returning to their barangays, they will orient their peers and organize community peace dialogues,” he added.
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| hirty-five youth from seven barangays in Balindong participated in the 'Culture of Peace' training organized by Relief International. During this training, they learned about understanding conflicts and peace, including their crucial role in promoting peace within their communities. (APB/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur) |
Youth Discovering Potential
Sittie Hamida Abdulwahab expressed enthusiasm for the training, sharing that it was her first experience interacting with people from different barangays.
Norhanie Sarif viewed the training as a valuable opportunity for personal and leadership growth.
“We learned a lot that we can apply to improve our organization and our barangay. This is a big help to us as youth and future leaders,” she said.
Arham Yusoph expressed surprise at the depth of knowledge gained from the training, noting that such lessons were not taught in school.
He highlighted the importance of sharing these learnings with peers to foster peace and prevent conflicts within their barangay, emphasizing the youth’s role as future community leaders.
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| Thirty-five youth from seven barangays in Balindong participated in the 'Culture of Peace' training organized by Relief International. During this training, they learned about understanding conflicts and peace, including their crucial role in promoting peace within their communities. (APB/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur) |
WaY to Peace Project
Biadnes underscored the project’s primary objective of enhancing the capacity of Lanao del Sur’s youth to participate in local peacebuilding and conflict resolution initiatives.
To effectively support these young individuals and their organizations, the project proposed integrating a gender perspective into the Annual Investment Plan. This would ensure that the youth’s interests and needs are considered and acknowledged at the barangay level. Biadnes also mentioned that UNYPAD would facilitate dialogues between the youth and barangay officials to articulate their specific needs and advocate for their inclusion in the agenda.
Moreover, the project will support peaceful elections through voter education. Biadnes said that by uniting youth to learn about the electoral code and their role in ensuring peaceful elections, the project helps create a more informed and actively involved youth electorate.
“Hindi ma-resolve ang problema ng Bangsamoro in just one training, but we want to set a direction contributing that peace is a behavior change,” he emphasized.
(A single training cannot resolve the complex issues facing the Bangsamoro, but we want to set a direction towards a lasting peace, emphasizing behavioral change.)
Funded by Australian Aid, the WaY to Peace project covers not just the municipality of Balindong but also Masiu, Madamba, and Binidayan. (APB/PIA-10)
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| Thirty-five youth from seven barangays in Balindong participated in the 'Culture of Peace' training organized by Relief International. During this training, they learned about understanding conflicts and peace, including their crucial role in promoting peace within their communities. (APB/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur) |
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