Sunday, November 02, 2008 Mindanao youth gather for peace
ABOUT 70 young peace advocates who represent the Christian-Moro-Lumad people of the six political regions of Mindanao gathered last October 30-31 at the Catalina Park, Shrine Hills in Davao City for a youth intercultural dialogue.
A series of lectures from resource persons on peace and Mindanao history, breakout sessions and art exhibits peppered the two day event, which was highlighted by a dialogue that encouraged discussions on the youth’s view of achieving an objective understanding of the peace process and how it affects people lives and share their common experiences.
The event aimed to foster a deeper experience of multicultural diversity where genuine intercultural and interfaith activities are important elements in building peace in a multicultural environment like Mindanao.
It also hoped to enable the young people to network with each other to collectively respond to the current peace and security concern in Mindanao.
"We could use the qualities of the youth which is dynamism, idealism and optimism to achieve lasting peace," said Aili Gastuslao, a participant and a member of the Youth Advocates for Peace.
Allyson Banga-an, another participant, said the dialogue does not intend to change the world but would try to effect changes in each other's lives.
"It was an eye-opener for me," said Mellun Pepito of Zamboanga City.
"We are in this conflict, the youth is the hope of the country, we are a part and parcel of this efforts to achieve a peaceful future," said Rosan Aliya Agbon, founder of Kids for Peace.
Allyson said that after the Dialogue, the youth participants will have come up with a peace statement, which they will re-echo both in the media and themselves when they return to their respective communities.
The dialogue was organized by Kids for Peace Foundation supported by the United Nations-Government of the Philippines Multi-Donor ACT for Peace Programme and participated by youths coming from Peace and Development Advocates Leagues and Alliances, as well as from conflict-affected areas, Sangguniang Kabataan Members, Kabataan News Network-Mindanao Bureaus and the Young Advocates for Peace Foundation. (PIA/RA Alama)
