Thursday, December 06, 2007 Mindanao peace week ends By Danilo V. Adorador III
VARIOUS peace-oriented initiatives are springing to life as the Mindanao Week of Peace, which ended Wednesday, was observed throughout the island.
At the Mindanao State University Marawi City Campus (MSU-Marawi), a book that chronicles the stories of young Muslim youths as they help impoverished communities in Lanao areas was launched last Thursday -- the inaugural day for the weeklong commemoration, which started in 1997.
Kapamagogopa Incorporated, a Muslim volunteer-sending organization, spearheaded the launching of the book entitled, "Making the Difference through Muslim Volunteering."
Authored by Nicole van Zurk, a Dutch volunteer at the Volunteer Service Organization (VSO), the book explores the challenges of Muslim youth volunteers as they assist poverty-stricken communities that even include some Christian-dominated villages.
Across Mindanao, fora, symposia, interfaith dialogues and caravans are being held to commemorate the Mindanao Week of Peace, while covenants are being signed among multi-sectoral groups to further promote peace among the island's inhabitants.
In Tacurong, bikers hit the road in a display of support for peace initiatives, while a three-day festival, which showcases best practices implementing poverty-reduction programs in conflict areas, is being celebrated in Kidapawan City.
Peace education is also gaining grounds, and is one of the highlights in this year's Mindanao Week of Peace commemoration, with educators and religious leaders pushing for an institutionalized Peace Education curriculum.
In Cagayan de Oro, a three-day, "Culture of Peace Workshop" for MSU educators was held Sunday.
MSU President Ricardo de Leon said the November 29 to December 1 workshop aims to immerse MSU system officials to the Peace Education curriculum, and for them to formulate policies in support of the program.
The Mindanao Week of Peace celebration was established through Presidential Proclamation 127, and is observed every last Thursday of November to the first Wednesday of December.
It aims to "raise consciousness for a culture peace among the peoples of Mindanao" and provide "a venue for expression of peace aspirations in various forms and for convergence of peace initiatives."
