Peace Promotion Fellowship 2021: Inspiring Courage

© Copyright 2022 Equal Access International Philippines

All rights reserved. This material may be used for educational and advocacy purposes and the use of brief quotations, with proper acknowledgment of the copyright owner. This material is NOT FOR SALE.

To request permissions, contact the publisher at eaiphilippines@equalaccess.org.

ISBN (softbound): 978-621-96760-1-4 ISBN (downloadable): 978-621-96760-2-1

Published by: Equal Access International (EAI) Philippines Cagayan de Oro City, 9000, Philippines

Writers: Jaymilyn Geronimo | John Al Joshua delos Reyes | Brian Adam Anay | Miguel Burton Logroño

Layout: John Al Joshua delos Reyes | Irish Jane Calungsod

Photos: Peace Promotion Fellows | EAI Philippines | Plan International - Marawi Response Project

Illustrations: Elaine Jannie Olaer

Editors: Brian Adam Anay | Stephen Pedroza | Joel Dizon | Irish Jane Calungsod

Message from the Country Director

Message from the Country Director

Assalamu alaikom warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu. Greetings of Peace and Prosperity! Kalinaw!

The Peace Promotion Fellowship (PPF) highlights the power of the youth to co-create innovative solutions to conflict issues in the community. As one of Equal Access’s youth development programs (YDP), it brings into the center young people’s role in shaping society. For Peace Fellows, the PPF is an empowerment journey. It is a continuing process of acquiring skills and enhancing capabilities to inspire spheres of influence in sharing peace-centered values and advocacies.

The second cohort of Peace Fellows proved that our collaborative work for healing and social cohesion in Mindanao continues despite the barriers placed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This milestone is possible through the support of Plan International through its USAID-funded Marawi Response Project (MRP). We give our gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to work with the youth in Lanao through Positive Youth Development programs including the OURmindaNOW: Digital Tech Camp and Hack4Youth: Digital Hackathon.

Twelve emerging young leaders from Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and Marawi City compose PPF Batch 2021. They have proven that the Bangsamoro youth can contribute to a better tomorrow. Peace Fellows worked in teams and partnered with various stakeholders in turning their ideas into action. In three months, three community-based peace projects made waves in Lanao- the RINAWareness, KaLAKElintad, and Peace Harvest. This book contains all their stories that hope to inspire courage in the readers, in the same way, the Peace Fellows sought courage from the lives they have touched throughout the journey.

To our Peace Fellows, we are proud of you. We are grateful for allowing us to work with you. The dedication you have shown despite the challenges the pandemic brought while you were implementing your peace projects continues to inspire us every day. Indeed, the possibilities are endless when we work together for our communal progress. The more we see young people like you, the more hope we have in reaching that dream of sustainable peace in Mindanao. Moving forward, the journey you took was long and the journey ahead is even longer. May you find your own unique impetus as you continue to become peace influencers and peacebuilders that this country needs.

This book is a testament to the empowerment journeys of the 12 young lives who dedicated their time and skills to PPF and their beloved communities. We thank our Peace Fellows for sharing narratives of their experiences and shared transformation.

Thank you and have a meaningful read on our Inspiring Courage book for the 2021 Batch of Peace Promotion Fellowship!

Ahmed Harris ‘Tommy’ Pangcoga Country Director, Equal Access International Philippines Representative Office

“The more we see young people like you, the more hope we have in reaching that dream of sustainable peace in Mindanao.”

About the Peace Promotion Fellowship 2021

The Peace Promotion Fellowship is Equal Access’ premiere youth development program for young community leaders who are passionate and committed to peacebuilding, transforming extremism, and positive social change. The program supports outstanding candidates aiming to co-create innovative and sustainable peace solutions to address challenges faced by their communities.

The 12 selected Peace Fellows underwent a three-month intensive program that included capacity development sessions, mentoring, and community project implementation in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.

The Peace Promotion Fellowship Batch 2021 was supported by Plan International’s USAID-funded Marawi Response Project (MRP).

PPF Objectives

The Peace Promotion Fellowship aims to: Raise awareness of Peace Promotion Fellows on peacebuilding and Preventing and Transforming Violent Extremism (PTVE) at the global, national and local levels;

Build and sharpen fellows’ skills in advocacy development and project management of solutions in communities to promote peacebuilding and PTVE;

Understand community initiatives on PTVE while integrating fellows’ skills to develop, manage and evaluate their innovative peace community projects related to their choice of practice area;

Create a community of peace influencers in Mindanao actively promoting positive social change and innovative grassroots solutions.

PERSPECTIVES IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTIES

in Retrospect

Digital Tech Camp November-December 2020

With the support of Plan International’s USAIDfunded Marawi Response Project (MRP), 28 Lanao youth completed the four-week Digital Tech Camp of EAI Philippines. The online-based capacity-building training held synchronous and asynchronous sessions with experts and personalities from the peacebuilding community as lecturers and facilitators. Important sessions included peace and conflict in Mindanao, empowerment, critical thinking, and using digital skills in advocacy campaigns.

Call for PPF 2021 Applications & Announcement of Batch 2 Peace Fellows January 2021

EAI Philippines’ PPF 2021 with Plan International - MRP engaged with youth leaders in Lanao who completed the Digital Tech Camp in December 2020. Tech Camp alumni from the digital camp applied for the PPF and only 12 proceeded in the three-month fellowship.

Community Visits, Introduction of Peace Projects PPF Mentorship

February 2021 - March 2021

Equipped with the much needed skills and plans to turn their project ideas into reality, Peace Fellows spent the initial weeks conducting courtesy visits and orientation to local leaders and stakeholders in their project communities. They also engaged with the LGUs, government and nongovernment organizations, and youth volunteers as project partners.

To guide Peace Fellows in strategizing project activities and ensuring context-based approaches, each group worked with a mentor whose background and expertise matched with their project’s focus.

PPF Orientation, Peace Project Ideation & Presentation February 2021

As COVID-19 restrictions eased around this time in most parts of Mindanao, the 12 Peace Fellows completed a two-day and inperson PPF Orientation in Misamis Oriental. In addition, the Peace Fellows were divided into three teams with four member-fellows each. PPF Batch 2 introduced and presented their Peace Projects: RINAWareness, KaLAKElintad, and Peace Harvest.

This orientation also included higher-level capacity-building sessions for youth leaders such as project management and monitoring and evaluation, among others. Peace Fellows also underwent interactive group workshops to strengthen team dynamics.

Project Implementation and Social Media Campaign February - April 2021

With only three months to implement their Peace Projects, Peace Fellows came up with innovative solutions, focusing on activities that promote peace and address issues causing conflict in their respective communities.

Peace Harvest implemented holistic transformation approaches among the morits and Uztads (teachers) by promoting food security through sustainable gardening, enhancing the morits’ mental and physical well-being, empowering them through education, and spreading awareness on non-morits to lessen social stigma. While learning backyard gardening and crop cultivation, a series of capacity-building activities on understanding the self and the role of the youth in peace building were conducted.

A unique feature of Project KaLAKElintad gives one a hint on where the project activities were implemented—communities surrounding the Lake Lanao, particularly in Ragayan, Tacub, and Pagalongan in Marantao municipality. This peace initiative offered an opportunity for vulnerable Out-of-School youth aged 15-21 to unlock new learnings and realizations, by bringing together different groups to discuss the essence of peace and creating connections between the diverse groups involved.

PPF Learning Sessions February - April 2021

Complementing and reinforcing on-the-ground experiences and learnings, Peace Fellows attended online sessions with youth guests and experts who discussed topics to enhance project implementation and individual skills.

Selected PPF Batch 1 alumni also joined the learning sessions by giving advice from their PPF experience.

PPF Virtual Town Hall May 2021

On May 5, 2021, a PPF Virtual Town Hall gathered 30 guests from various local government units, regional line agencies, civil society organizations, youth groups and non-governmental organizations. This activity presented the milestones of the peace projects implemented by the 12 peace fellows from Lanao.

The first youth-led peace initiative in Balo-i, Lanao del Sur, Project RINAWareness, on the other hand, gave emphasis on the social impact of conflict among families and the greater community. It raised awareness on lawlessness in the community by highlighting the role of the youth, women and children in peacebuilding.

Acouple of weeks after the virtual PPF Town Hall, an in-person awarding ceremony and town-hall meet were held in Marawi City on May 20, 2021.

Peace Fellows presented their project’s milestones and expressed call to action and a call for support from stakeholders and partners. They also received their plaque of recognition while mentor and partners were also awarded.

PPF Wrap-Up, Town Hall & Awarding Ceremony May 2021

PLANTING SEEDS of Hope:

The Story of Peace Harvest

What was once a prosperous city in the southern part of the Philippines has now become one of the most impoverished places in the country. The Maute Group, a radical Islamist group, pledged its devotion in 2014 to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). With their aim to be recognized and claim territory in the Asia–Pacific, came the Battle of Marawi.1

The group’s bloody confrontation against the government forces in 2017 forced about 98% of the people in Marawi to leave the locality due to violence, constrictions in their livelihood, and food shortages.2

Those who were recruited by the Maute Group were mostly 18-27 years old. They were made to believe that an act of terror was a sign of their unwavering faith in Allah (SWT).3 But this has resulted in destroyed buildings, endless gunshots, and disheveled streets in Marawi. Children who were supposed to enjoy their innocence were traumatized, causing a 180-degree turn in their life.

After the siege in Marawi, more than 100,000 children were displaced and suffered from losing not only their

homes but also their loved ones. Half of all children in Lanao were already malnourished even before the crisis, but due to this 2017 siege, the number of youths who are continuously struggling to survive hunger and poverty has only increased.4 A better tomorrow, for these victims, seems to be a dream too difficult to reach.

For people outside the picture, the figures stated may just be mere data. But for Sittie, Jamal, Yasrin, and Khayranie, those numbers tell the bitter truth they have been living in.

This is the reason why Peace Harvest, a project that aims to promote food security through sustainable gardening in torils or madrasahs in Marawi City, began to give hope in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Through an opportunity sprouted from the Peace Promotion Fellowship of Equal Access International Philippines, with the support from Plan International’s USAID-funded Marawi Response Project (MRP), this idea to help alleviate children from their situation in Lanao del Sur took off and bloomed.

The Root of it All

In 2015, in Lanao del Sur, where Marawi City is geographically located, the percentage of people living below the poverty line was 74.3%. It was considered the poorest province in the country that year, and the incidence was further affected by the siege. This situation, alongside the existence of COVID-19, also had an effect on the agricultural sector of the province.

The province nevertheless has a good climate and arable land, making it one of the biggest producers of wheat, corn, sugarcane, coconut, cassava, and banana in the Philippines before.5 But with the economic decline and measures made to contain the pandemic and the damage of the siege, their effect on the ability of the people to purchase food worsened. This had an enormous impact on the food supply chains, making it difficult for the farmers to produce as people in the area’s purchasing power declined.6

These were the reasons why Sittie Asia M. Mai, a 27-year-old youth leader, and founder of an organization-turned-enterprise called Mushroom for Change, from Guinaopan, Lanao del Sur, came up with a campaign idea that involves a specific group of people in their community — Peace Harvest.

The whole foundation of the project revolved around what she had witnessed while volunteering in an area where there are so many malnourished youths, struggling to satiate their hunger.

Their engagement during the project implementation made them want more and push more with their advocacies. However, the path to achieving their goals was not an easy road to take. There were bumps and humps while driving towards their mission.

“We were from different organizations, so at first it really was difficult as we did not know each other,” she shares. “The only things we are familiar with were our advocacies and campaigns before, so there were so many adjustments in our journey working together.”

Sittie also added that due to the different affiliations of the project members, finding a common time was challenging. They had to compensate with what and who they had at the moment, especially with COVID-19, which had also limited what they could do for their project.

It takes patience and endurance to run the Peace Harvest project. At the end of the day, we didn’t expect that we would complement each other’s skills while working together. I know now that we are unstoppable in the long run. We became a family.”

For her, the project led them to become more aware of the problems in the community, especially the gaps in society. Through focusing more on torils and madrasahs, she realized that they were neglected after the Marawi Siege. One of the goals of their group is to break the stigma that madrasahs are the breeding ground of terrorism. And with that, she realized her next goal:

“How are we going to tell people their side of the story?”

Stemming from a Tide of Passion

Jamal R. Pandapatan, a 20-year-old BS Social Work student from Mindanao State University - Main Campus, has known his calling from the very start.

“I feel like I can’t breathe if I don’t do any projects and volunteer work,” he shares. “It has been part of my life ever since.”

It motivated him to participate in the Digital Tech Camp of Equal Access International Philippines and was offered to become a fellow for the Peace Promotion Fellowship. He knew that he can’t say no to those opportunities. The same with his co-members, for Jamal it was the start of something new yet something familiar.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, it was difficult for their project to be sustainable. With his honesty, he admitted: “Our project looks good on paper. It has a ‘wow’ factor. But if we look into it, there are so many external factors that we have to take into consideration, such as the weather conditions, what the participants would do after harvesting the crops, and the limitations that the pandemic has brought about to the community.”

Their group had to make sure that even with these obstacles, the participants would be able to continue what they had taught them even after the implementation. So, the solution? Innovation.

“We gave them options, we told our beneficiaries that if they harvest the crops, they can either sell or eat them. We are going to partner them with a market or a store so that they can sell your crops there. With the money they earned, they could buy the food they want, as long as these can make them full.”

Through this experience, his passion for social work has never been firmer. He shared a defining moment while doing the project:

One time, when we visited the madrasah, they were all cooking, so we had to stay in a classroom first. In the chair I sat, I saw a notebook. There was a voice telling me that I should open it and when I did, I saw a handwritten note by one of our participants saying, ‘I also want to volunteer just like them, because Allah loves people who help other people.’”

With that, Jamal was moved. He realized that it is not only gardening that they are teaching, but also the essence of volunteerism.

Wilted Leaves Turned to Nurtured Aspiration

It is not shocking that Yasrin Hadji Rauf or Yas, a 24-year-old youth leader and student from Butig, Lanao del Sur, had hesitation before joining the Peace Promotion Fellowship. As a full-time master’s student, and a part of an organization called Butig Youth Movement for Peace, it is a major dilemma for Yas how she could manage her time and sort out her priorities.

Thankfully, through discernment and the advice of those around her, she realized that this is a great opportunity for her to learn more about her community.

After joining, however, the moment she stepped into Darul Falah Lita’limel Qurani wa Sunnah, a madrasah in Papandayan, Marawi City, she knew that it was going to be an emotional ride for her.

“While doing the project, I realized how perfect Peace Harvest is for the beneficiaries,” she says. “It all started with Ate Mai’s story of how she saw children suffering from ulcers and malnourishment in the Arabic school she volunteered in, and now we are actually doing something about it.”

Time, for her, is their greatest challenge. This was also brought about by the restrictions of

the COVID-19 pandemic and with it the rippling effect on their partnership with some NGOs and government offices.

“It’s like we were chasing time. Because Ramadan was currently happening while we were also implementing our peace project, we had to move some of our activities to another month. It also asked us to be quicker in conversing with possible partners for our project.”

They were still able to push through and still paved the way for change in the lives of the students.

Their group was also the first one to initiate a community pantry in Lanao del Sur, which became only the beginning of more pantries in the area. They posted a donation drive on Facebook which had over 13,700-reach.

As a first-timer in engaging in projects related to gardening and farming, Yasrin realized that there are so many other forms of advocacies they can do for people. She now hopes that their group can still continue the project and do more for people in need.

The Path a Blossoming Flower Takes

For the 22-year-old, Khayranie P. Mustapha, a youth leader and teacher from Lilod Saduc, Marawi City, joining the Peace Promotion Fellowship allows her to discover new lessons and experience new things.

She was not wrong with this because, in the process of the implementation of their project, Khayranie realized that she was able to do things that she did not know she was capable of before.

“Everything that we had done left a mark within me,” she shares. “From the backyard gardening to the community pantry — those ideas were created due to the stories of our beneficiaries. We thought of backyard gardening because they do not have healthy food to eat, which caused them to be malnourished. They were also the ones who lost their loved ones due to the Marawi Siege.”

Their group did not plan to do the community pantry, as they were just thinking of another way to help other people in their area, especially to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, when they saw the Maginhawa Community Pantry gaining popularity on social media, they were inspired to replicate it in Lanao.

“We heard stories that there are families who cannot afford to buy food for their iftar, that even when it is time to break their fast for Ramadan, they do not have anything to eat. This motivated us to do the community pantry. After that, many others were also inspired to do the same. It was like a domino effect.”

Through this, she was able to gain new memories and nurture the drive to help more people who need volunteers like them. She realized that even though it was just a small action, it has made a large impact on the people.

“Just seeing them smile, all my exhaustion was gone,” she shares. “I felt like all our efforts were worth it.”

For Khayranie, her journey in the Peace Promotional Fellowship is an extraordinary experience that gives her more courage and strength to take every step she will take in life.

Fruits of a Seed-bearing Intervention

They used to see their beneficiaries as distant and aloof in socializing with other people, but after the meetings and workshops, they eventually became more open. Throughout their journey, the torils became more interested in peacebuilding activities and other advocacies. The group was also able to know their stories and the reason behind their situations.

Moving forward, the four of them are willing to sustain their project due to the progress and changes they saw through monitoring and assessments. They are now motivated to continue to implement the activities they have for other schools who reached out to them through social media, and as soon as they find their common time, they would definitely develop the initiative they have sown.

When asked about one turning point in the implementation of the project that pushed them

to continue doing peace advocacy, the group shared:

“There was an old lady who approached us, saying, ‘It’s a relief that there are young people like you who care for those who are in need. If only… there are more people like you.’ The impact it had on the four of us was indescribable. To see their smiles from receiving a loaf of bread and a slice of watermelon — so priceless.”

At the end of the day, it was not only the Peace Harvest beneficiaries who were empowered, but also Sittie, Jamal, Yasrin, and Khayranie who helped students in Darul Falah Lita’limel Qurani wa Sunnah. Even with the limitations brought by crises, they have planted seeds of hope for a better future — a brighter one for the young Maranaos.

1Knight, C., & Theodorakis, K. (2018). The Marawi crisis—urban conflict and information operations. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.aspi.org. au/report/marawi-crisis-urban-conflict-and-information-operations

2Marawi Crisis. UNHCR Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.unhcr.org/ph/marawi-crisis

3Diego, M. S. (2019, January 13). Seeds of insurgency: The youth of Marawi. RAPPLER. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.rappler.com/news break/in-depth/220729-seeds-insurgency-youth-marawi-part-1/

4UNICEF. (2018). Marawi children still at risk 1 year on from conflict. https:// www.unicef.org/philippines/press-releases/marawi-children-still-risk-1-yearconflictunicef

5Lanao del Sur. Special Area for Agricultural Development, Department of Agriculture. (2020, August 3). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://saad. da.gov.ph/priority_provinces/region-x/lanao-del-sur#1594573637851e1298a59-d62c

4Rapid assessment of the impact of covid-19 on food supply chains in the Philippines. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2021, January). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://reliefweb.int/report/philip pines/rapid-assessment-impact-covid-19-food-supply-chains-philippines

“If I were to describe this whole PPF journey, it is an achievement for me, an achievement like the brightest star in the sky and as beautiful as a shooting star. Although it would be tragic to see the star fall, it shows how we will still continue to burn with so much passion within.”

NURJEHAN DIMACANGUN Peace Promotion Fellow, PPF Batch 2

“The youth are more than beneficiaries or participants in the development initiatives we support. We believe in youth agency. You must have the ability to decide about your lives, set your goals, and carve your paths to advancement.”

JEFFREY GOEBEL

Director, Office of Economic Development and Governance (OEDG), USAID Philippines, in his message during the PPF Town Hall & Awarding Ceremony on May 20, 2022 in Marawi City.

MOVING THROUGH STREAMS of Aspirations:

The Story of KaLAKElintad

“If our words can create growth, then let our stories inspire others. Let us turn visions into reality.”

The flowing clear waters, the abundance of life, and the blue skies — this imagery is not new for the people in Lanao. Every day they have seen how Lake Lanao, the largest lake in Mindanao, gave resources to provide livelihoods to the people, inspiring them to continue giving back to nature. Its beauty has defined the relationship Maranaos have with their community, their culture, and their religion. Formed between two mountain ranges and the collapse of a large volcano, this majestic lake fed the Maranao tribe with myths and legends, making their journey more vibrant.1

However, last 2017, the water that was once calm, trembled. For five months, the Philippine Armed Forces moved against Islamic State-affiliated militant groups in Marawi City. Popularly known as the Marawi Siege, the damage that resulted from this conflict led to the destruction of the lives of the Maranaos. More than a thousand people died, many were injured, and over 350,000 people became internally displaced persons in other provinces.2 The word Maranao which is

defined as “the people living around the lake”3 has lost its meaning.

For Asliah Abdullah, Arafat H. Hamid, Nisreen Pangcatan, and Mariam Basary, the opportunity presented through the Peace Promotion Fellowship 2 of Equal Access International Philippines, in partnership with Plan International’s USAID-funded Marawi Response Project (MRP), is a chance to make a difference in Lanao, bringing back what was once in the lives of Maranaos.

Armed with the purpose to educate, raising awareness, and offering opportunities to the out-of-school youth in Marantao, Lanao del Sur, these four individuals worked together to build a peace initiative called KaLAKELintad. Communities surrounding Lake Lanao, with vulnerable youth sectors, were introduced to the concept and importance of understanding peace.

With rippling waves and unchanging tides, their aim to unlock new learnings and discuss the essence of peace through creating connections among diverse groups, even through the bouts of the COVID-19 pandemic, helped the youths realize that they have the ability to dream of a new tomorrow.

As a 27-year-old teacher, Asliah Abdulllah had always wanted to implement her own project for the benefit of her community, so when the chance came knocking at her door, she immediately received it with open arms.

“I would really like to help uplift my community and of course, influence my fellow youth,” she says.

With her leadership, their group chose the out-schoolyouth community in Marantao, Lanao del Sur, where they implemented interactive activities including lectures, workshops, games, team-building activities, and community peace sessions, calling the whole project ‘KaLAKElintad’. Through these actions, the OSYs became more inspired to join them in other initiatives.

“We have also included them in other activities after conducting our project,” she shares. “Some of these initiatives are Ramadan treats and peace dialogues in different Madrasas, and a donation drive for the victims of Typhoon Odette.”

Even before the Peace Promotion Fellowship, Asliah believes that there is a need to help no matter how big or small, as long as you contribute something good. Her belief was further strengthened by her journey in their project implementation.

Surge of Hope “

For those people I encountered, I was able to influence and empower them to speak and do something.”

Now equipped with a deeper understanding of the youth from the grassroots, particularly those who came from remote areas, she became more appreciative of NGOs, like EAI Philippines, that give people an avenue to be more active and empowered.

Walking through Still Waters

The highlight of the PPF journey of Arafat M. Hamid, a 19-year-old BS Nursing student, was the friendship that he was able to build with his fellows. Simple as it may be, it has shown the essence and power of camaraderie toward building peace.

“It was very good to see young people coming together with one advocacy. It was fulfilling and overwhelming to see my fellow youth helping each other and giving insights to strengthen their ideas. To me, it was the best part.”

During the training, he could attest to how happy their group was. They never competed against each other as they shared the same goal— to spread and embody the importance of peacebuilding.

With their passion for bringing people together, the reflection it has on the beneficiaries cannot be denied. Arafat noticed that the participants’ behavior, confidence, and self-esteem have significantly improved.

“At first, they were very shy and were very hesitant to open up. Now, because of our project, they gained the confidence to express themselves and share the solutions they want to provide for their communities,” he shares.

If there is a chance to expand the scope of their project, Arafat said that it would really be beneficial because there are more vulnerable sectors in Lanao that are currently not being reached out to by any programs or projects. To do so, they would need to have more resources in widening their implementation.

“We want to reach more rural areas because I believe that to determine the real problem on the ground, one should take part in communicating with those who are marginalized or ‘nasa laylayan’ (fringes of society).”

Arafat can’t wait to see their participants be frontliners of peace — to be the first to engage and provide projects to help Lanao become conflict- and violence-free for future generations.

Arafat H.Hamid Peace Fellow, KaLAKElintad

“It was very good to see young people coming together with one advocacy. It was fulfilling and overwhelming to see my fellow youth helping each other and giving insights to strengthen their ideas. To me, it was the best part of my PPF journey.”

From Doubts to a Drift of Certainty

Nisreen K. Pangcatan, a 20-year-old Agriculture student from Mindanao State University, never would have thought that she would be able to finish the three-month duration of the Peace Promotion Fellowship. She wanted to focus on her studies at that time, and the hesitations she had could have stopped her. However, she was able to convince herself that this could be an opportunity to help those who are in need.

“It saddened me to see my fellow youth involved in violent extremism. I realized that maybe, I could have a greater purpose in life, and be an instrument to help address this issue.”

This was what motivated her to push through with the fellowship and endure the challenges that they had to face along the way.

She explains: “Finding a location for our project implementation was one of the biggest challenges we had, knowing that there are a lot of underprivileged communities that need help. Since our project’s name is KaLAKElintad, our

beneficiaries were supposed to be the people surrounding the lake. It was really hard to choose a location and find a community we want to highlight.”

Nisreen could not also deny that there had been misunderstandings because each one of them had their own opinions and ideas, but in the end, camaraderie and teamwork prevailed.

“We tried to consolidate at least one idea per member then merge them into one whole idea,” she shares.

Throughout the rollercoaster ride, the whole experience was something she would not trade for anything else. As she saw the face of hope in their beneficiaries, she knew that together they had the power to do something positive for their community. Nisreen knew that joining the fellowship was something to be treasured.

“My PPF journey empowered me, all the more changed me to be a better peace advocate for the youth of my community.”

One of the reasons that Mariam M. Macarambon, a 25-year-old teacher from Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, joined the fellowship was because she wanted to find herself. She thought that through this experience, she will be able to know who she is.

Her expectations didn’t fail her because, during their implementation, Mariam discovered that she can trust herself to do things she had never done before.

“I’ve always been an introvert from elementary to college, but through PPF, I realized that what it all takes is confidence to speak in front of many people.”

With her newly-learned skill of public speaking, Mariam knew that it will lead her to become a more effective teacher who can communicate with students to deliver messages of peace. Interacting

with the out-of-school youths made her realize the importance of her job and the essence of being a youth leader.

She narrates: “After our project implementation, our aim was for our participants to have a re-echo. They then created their own project in the madrasahs and torils. We let them lead their own activities, and we were there to guide them. We saw how successful it was, and how inspired they were while doing it.”

Mariam saw how their participants became empowered in nurturing the concept of peace in their community. It became clear to her—she already found herself way before, she just needed to rediscover it, and the Peace Promotion Fellowship did just that.

A

Reflection

KaLAKElintad was indeed a success, but for these four individuals, it was also important to remember the trials they had to go through to push the project. One of which was the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic during its implementation. For the team, fortunately, there is no mountain too high to climb.

“Considering that it is the pandemic, our movement was really restricted from going to places and gathering the participants,” Arafat says. “We overcame it by being versatile in finding other means.”

Drought Turned to Downpour “

The group partnered with the LGU to ensure that the protocols are followed and that there is a secure and suitable venue good for 30 people. They also provided face masks, checked their temperature, and listed their names and numbers for easier contact tracing.

It was also a great help that most of the youth today can be reached online. Arafat shares: “Since our face-to-face events are limited, we utilized social media by posting materials that highlighted the importance

of peace. This way we are able to connect to more audiences.”

An ongoing agriculture-focused project under KaLAKElintad named PermaCulture took off as another way to promote peace through the use of farming. This just means that even with a few resources KaLAKElintad had, they were still able to implement their project effectively. Through hard work and collaboration, this initiative inspired the out-of-school youths to be catalysts of change.

These beneficiaries, even though drenched with hopelessness and discouragement, were able to swim through doubts and rise again with a heart to aspire and soar high for peace.

References

1Bhutia, T. K., & Young, G. (2012). Lake Lanao. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/place/ Mindanao

2San Martin, T. (2019, September 9). Rebuilding lives in Marawi. Plan International USA. Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://www. planusa.org/blog/rebuilding-lives-in-marawi/

3Peoples of the Philippines: Maranao. National Commission for Culture and the Arts. (2018, October 12). Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/glimpses-peoples-of-the-philippines/maranao/

Through KaLAKElintad, our participants became more willing to learn and be part of the solution.”

WALKING THE SAME STREETS

Together:

The Story of RINAWareness

It is 3:00 PM, you just woke up from your afternoon nap. You asked your mother to go out and play with the other kids in the neighborhood. She shouts that you stay close to home or something along those lines. Of course, you did not listen, you were too excited to leave and get into the action with your friends waiting for you at the street corner.

The sweet childhood bliss of only caring about winning the afternoon chinese garter or jolen, and worrying about eating vegetables for dinner.

However, in some communities in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, children wake up to the sound of gunshots, neighbors screaming for help, and parents forcing them to drop and hide. Sometimes, these random acts of violence happen in nearby schools and public areas. These acts tell us that no one is safe, making families resort to drastic decisions that hurt children and teens. The reason for this is rido.

Rido1 directly translates to “feuding or clan conflict.” It refers to a state of recurring hostilities between families and kinship groups characterized by a series of retaliatory acts of violence, carried out to avenge a perceived affront or injustice.

Popular discourse explains that rido as a custom is deeply motivated by religious and moral beliefs. However, current literature about this phenomenon suggests that there is a strong social dimension to rido and that it is seen as a social norm. It supports the process wherein people think that they should retaliate when they get offended and that if they are members of a family or clan they should support the pursuit of justice even through violence.

In communities of Lanao del Norte, rido does not remain to be a concept but a lived reality. Nurjehan of RINAWareness shared, “What really drove me to talk about this issue are my personal experiences living in Balo-i. The trauma that we get from hearing gunshots, people panicking, and children crying. I remember how parents will get so nervous when there are random gunshots. They cannot calm down because they are afraid that children might be shot, too.” She adds:

Knowing Rido “

It hurts to see some of my peers not being able to go to school or stay in the place where they grew up because they need to hide in other places just to live. While the rido continues, they need to transfer from one area to another to stay safe. They cannot fully experience what it is like to be a normal teenager.”

Slowly Building a Community of Peace

Drawing from their shared experiences, Nurjehan Dimacangun, Khalid Damo, Narima Guimba, and Hakim Rahman decided to join the first Digital Tech Camp of Equal Access International Philippines, in partnership with Plan International’s USAID-funded Marawi Response Project (MRP), while in the middle of a global pandemic.

The Digital Tech Camp is a five-week learning experience that includes asynchronous and synchronous sessions that cover topics on Understanding Peace and Conflict, History of Conflict in Mindanao, Alternative Messaging, Creating Digital Campaigns, Basic Media Tools, among others.

At the end of the five-week activity, the team created Project RINAWareness, a social media campaign that aims to create positive content for children and teens in Balo-i. The project took its name and inspiration from the distinct words “rinaw” which is a Maranao root word that means “peace”, and the English word “awareness” which when combined means “to raise people’s awareness of peace.”

Pushing the idea forward as they became part of the Peace Promotion Fellowship, the group of friends transformed RINAWareness into a youthled peace initiative aiming to emphasize the role of

youth and children in peacebuilding from conflictaffected communities like Balo-i, Lanao del Norte through positive narratives. They were able to reach 63 young people through Peace Camps and 86 children through Storytelling Sessions from different vulnerable communities in the area. During these interactive sessions, the team presented innovative activities and stories that reflect positive values that children and young people can emulate like kindness, empathy, respect, and non-violence.

Khalid shares, “It was very fulfilling getting to talk to children and engage them in our activities. Through our activities, they were now more confident to express their dreams and they learned about the concept of peace. It’s inspiring to see the happiness and excitement in the faces of children to learn more.” Khalid, a 20-year-old BS International Relations student at Mindanao State UniversityMain Campus, is also involved in Project 911 and is a member of Salimbago Youth Volunteers Alliance.

Understanding the role of parents and multiple stakeholders in building safer communities, the team was able to deeply discuss with 15 parents and collaborate with 13 different stakeholders such as the local government unit, uniformed personnel, universities, and religious leaders for the conduct of the different activities.

Nurjehan, a 21-year-old BS Social Work student from MSU Main Campus, talked about their experience during the stakeholders’ meetings.

“During the community stakeholders’ meetings, different sector representatives were present. We were the only youth present in the conversation. We were questioned what our role as youth would be because they thought that we would resolve rido. They do not believe that the youth have the capacity to resolve such a big issue. We recognize that we cannot solve rido directly. We can bring together our peers instead to do peace work and practice positive messaging. We explained that we are investing in the power of storytelling. It was a challenge to bring the community to the same page of our vision for our peace work.”

Nurjehan is currently part of Torogan a Katao, and Project TarmbaBag.

In their work with the mothers in the community, Khalid expressed that during our small group discussions, they shared with the mothers the importance of peace to their children. “We believe that it takes a whole village to hone the child,” he says. “The community is responsible to teach them. We saw how the parents encouraged their children to engage.”

Project RINAWareness conducted all of these peace activities while the pandemic was ongoing following public health safety standards, and in partnership with Salimbago Youth Volunteer Alliance (SYVA), a youth-led organization in Balo-i. The team believes that even in the midst of a global health crisis, issues of peace in communities continue to grow and need constant actions.

Looking Back to Important Lessons

When asked about their major takeaways from PPF, Hakim, a 22-year-old student from MSU Main Campus, shares: “I learned to respect the perspective of other people. This is the learning that I value the most.” He was also able to reflect, “Having to amplify and empower people who need support, education, and learning, these were my greatest learnings. For us, we continue to believe that peace and positive knowledge start from the children, parents, and community.” Hakim is currently taking BS International Relations and is currently a member of the Salimbago Youth Volunteers Alliance.

For Nurjehan, her greatest lesson from PFF was central to the concept of communication. “Growing up I wasn’t fond of speaking; I was very shy. PPF’s impact is huge on a personal level because I have learned more about the importance of communication. Our activities are also built around communication. For instance, the importance of bringing dialogue to the table with our community stakeholders and the power of stories through the use of our storybooks intended for children.”

Narima, a 19-year-old BS Political Science student from MSU Main Campus also shares: “My greatest learning on the PPF is not forgetting Allah (SWT) in every situation, because He is the only one who will never get tired of hearing your struggles and problems — the importance of trust among your fellows, the importance of being heard and being given validation, and the importance of teamwork, helping each other, and being there for each other through the ups and downs.” She is currently involved in Project Aral and Project Kapamagogopa 3.0, a Ramadhan donation drive.

We believe that it takes a whole village to hone a child. The community is responsible to teach them. We saw how the parents encouraged their children to engage.”

Khalid Damo Peace Fellow, RINAWareness

Walking Together for Peace

They see the future with a brighter vision, looking forward to continuing their peacebuilding work in the community.

“With our direct partners at the community level, they become more responsive since youth-led, peace interventions are still new,” Khalid shares.

“Now, projects alike have started in our community from youth-led organizations, government agencies, and the local government. Partners are now more interested in supporting these initiatives.”

The team walks the small-town streets of the Balo-i where they are welcomed by children happily playing at their homes, giving them warm greetings, and asking if the young peace advocates still remember them.

The wounds brought about by years of conflict may have been etched into the community, but there is hope in knowing that a new generation of young peacebuilders are rising up to choose a kinder path — the path of peace where everyone can walk together.

“That’s where we put extra effort, in making them aware that having peace starts within us.”

1Torres, W., 2014. Rido. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.

PEACE PROMOTION FELLOWSHIP Batch 2 (From left to right)

Khalid Damo, Sittie Asia Mai, Arafat H.Hamid, Jamal Pandapatan, Nurjehan Dimacangun, Hakim Rahman, Asliah Abdullah, Nisreen Pangcatan, Narima Guimba, Khayranie Mustapha, Mariam Basary, Yasrin Hadji Rauf

Plan International - MRP

Plan International - MRP

Plan International - MRP

Peace Promotion Fellowship 2021

Peace Harvest: Jamal Pandapatan | Sittie Asia Mai | Yasrin Hadji Rauf | Khayranie Mustapha Mentor: Rey Anthony Anacleto, Peace Crops

Partners: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) | Office of the Provincial Agriculturist | Markaz Darul Falah Litahfidhil Qur’an wa Sunnah | University of Science & Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP)

KaLAKElintad: Nisreen Pangcatan | Asliah Abdullah | Arafat H.Hamid | Mariam Basary Mentor: Prof. Yasmira Moner, Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM), MSU-IIT

Partners: IPDM, MSU-IIT | Local Government Unit of Marantao, Lanao del Sur | Bagong Marantao Youth Council (BMYC) | Youth Early Response Network (YERN)

RINAWareness: Khalid Damo | Nurjehan Dimacangun | Hakim Rahman | Narima Guimba Mentor: Amalnor Malomalo, Sh.c., Ranao Confederation for Peace and Development

Partners: Salimbago Youth Volunteers Alliance (SYVA) | Local Government Unit of Balo-i, Lanao del Norte | Project 911