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Sunday, July 03, 2005
Young Muslim professionals work for dev't in Mindanao
BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi -- Is youth wasted on the young?
Not for three young Muslim women whose faith and vision for an improved Mindanao inspire them to share their talents and skills to help their respective communities.
“I used to ask myself: ‘Why has our province remained underdeveloped? But now, instead of asking questions and grappling for answers, or even blaming others for the lot we’re in, I do my best in my work…I perform whatever tasks are given to me as efficiently as I can,’” says 26-year-old Kharsum Mohammad, Executive Director of the Tawi-Tawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), at her small office in Bongao.
Being the head of a business services organization is no small feat. Aside from supervising the day-to-day activities, Kharsum is also tasked with establishing close working relationships with other development partners, promoting trade and investment, and assisting TCCI directors in prioritizing policy issues.
Yet, she’s doing everything with flair.
Up the hill where the Provincial Capitol sits, Farrah Aionie Hadji, 23, Provincial Information Officer, is conceptualizing an in-house newsletter to inform employees about the various government programs and other activities in the province.
“I want my fellow public servants to know what we’ve done so far for our province and what we still need to do,” Farrah enthuses. “It also feels good to learn about one’s achievements or to be part of an endeavor to help the community.”
“Besides, social responsibility should be an individual’s responsibility,” she adds.
In Maguindanao, 24-year-old Norhana Kamid takes a different tact. Although she teaches Biology and other science subjects at the Sultan Kudarat Islamic Academy, Norhana incorporates the analysis of social issues, especially those affecting the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), in her classes.
“It is in college that young people ask questions about issues around them. I share with them whatever I’ve learned, doing my best to make them understand things,” says Norhana.
She can relate well with her students, as it was only a few years ago that she was in their shoes, plagued with nagging questions on what the future would offer her. The unbridled poverty across ARMM and the glaring uncertainty about the future resulted in her apathy towards getting involved in community affairs.
But her attitude changed after her stint in the House of Representatives. By participating in the Congressional Internship Program for Young Muslim Leaders (CIPYML), Norhana was able to observe democratic processes in motion and to witness legislators in action.
Norhana, Kharsum and Farrah are among the 50 young Muslim professionals who have joined the program since its launch in 2003.
Initiated by Speaker Jose de Venecia and supported by United States Agency for International Development, CIPYML is designed to provide promising young individuals from the ARMM and other conflict-affected areas of Mindanao with the chance to observe the process of democratic governance and to acquire experience in legislation and policy formulation. The four-month internship provides young, prospective leaders with the opportunity to work with Congressional Committees and with individual members of the House.
The interns also acquired skills from specially-designed training sessions on policy development, policy analysis and advocacy, and project planning and management.
Such skills are a big help to Kharsum and Norhana. As part of her job, Kharsum also prepares position papers for submission to relevant policy-making bodies of government, helps develop strategic business plans for TCCI, and ensures that activities identified in the plan are implemented.
“I’m looking for ways on how to mobilize all members of the Chamber and help it become an active group not just in the ARMM but in Mindanao,” says Kharsum. “It’s a tall order, but I’ll do my best to help TCCI achieve both,” she adds, smiling.
Norhana is also a volunteer, drafting project proposals for Ittihadun Nisa Foundation, Inc., an organization helping orphans and displaced women in Central Mindanao.
Aside from doing voluntary work and teaching college students, Norhana has become part of a team managing the Madrasah System of Learning, a new program implemented by the Sultan Kudarat Islamic Academy and The Asia Foundation.
The program offers ustadz and ustadjah lessons in English, Science, Math and Computer. Teaching science to highly-respected Arabic teachers, whose ages range from late 20’s to early 40’s, is a great challenge for Norhana.
“But everything turns out all right. They are open-minded and are willing to learn,” she says.
For Norhana, helping educate people, both young and old, is her contribution to improve her community. Farrah devotes her time to government service while Kharsum assists businesspeople promote trade and investment. Different callings, yet all are prompted by youthful enthusiasm for the same goal making Mindanao a better place.
The internship program is a collaborative effort of the House of Representatives, Mindanao State University, and USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program. It is presently accepting applications for its fourth cycle, which will start in September and end in December.
It is indeed the youth who see great opportunities hidden in simple services. (GEM) |
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