Peace emanates from within, from the individuals who radiate it, waiting for the whole community to echo it back. Creating peace is not a one-step process. In another wave of Peace Camp, the Communication Foundation for Asia once again takes on the journey of sowing the seeds of peace among the youth.
The Peace Camp Series, since it started in 2006, has been relaunched for several times which speaks for its success in gluing the fragments of conflict using peace communication exercises among Christian, Lumad and Muslim youth. Over the years, CFA has reached hundreds of young Christians, Muslims, and tri-people.
The latest Peace Camp project, popularly known as “Katilingban sa Kalinaw (Community for Peace) Mindanao” was conducted for three years, from November 2019 to November 2021.
This was participated in by 203 Mindanawan tri-youth. They were trained to sharpen their skills in communications for peace building through the lectures and workshops conducted for this particular purpose, namely: Communication for Peace Advocacy (Peace Communication Plan) through “Kwenturo” (teaching through stories); (YOU + TECHNOLOGY) Community; Inter-Religious Dialogue and Peace Building; Break-out sessions/ Simultaneous Workshops on: (a) Theater Arts; (b) Poetry and Music; (c) Visual Arts: (d) Kwentulat (News Storytelling).
Through the knowledge and skills that they acquired, they were mentored to formulate their own peace communication plans. For their re-echoing of the peace camp and their peace communication plans , they were able to train 1,686 children, youth and adults.
The 14 flagship programs
For the final phase of the project, the Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA) in partnership with the Activating Rural Changemakers (ARC), organized the “Kalinaw (Peace) Gamechangers: Bukidnon Youth Summit.” This was conducted from April 5 to 10, 2021 with 43 Mindanawan tri-youth participants who came from Zamboanga Sibugay, Misamis Occidental, Cotabato, Maguindanao, Davao City, Mati City, Agusan del Sur, Malalag, Lanao del Norte, Iligan City and Midsayap. After undergoing training – workshops on peace, strategic communication, and developing local peace, 38 tri-youth participants of the Bukidnon Youth Summit formed themselves into 14 groups with the following flagship programs:
- AMYL Youth Chats: Empowering Young People Towards a Peaceful and Resilient Community by Alliance of Magnanimous Youth Leaders Inc. (AMYL)
- Community Literacy Programs Integrating Theater and Arts of the Communication Foundation for Asia by BADAS
- Voter’s Education Series by Boto ng Kabataan
- PROJECT UDYAG (Uniting and Developing Youth for Active participation and Good governance) by Concerned Bangsamoro Youth of Davao Oriental, Inc. (CBYDO)
- BALIK TA, TRIBO KO! (Theme and Focus: BAGOBO TAGABAWA IP YOUTH – Revisiting the Indigenous past is our gateway to a dignified IP future by Hiyas ng (Gem of) Kalambuan
- UNTOLD: Unfolding an Authentic Story (Theme and Focus: Drug-abuse) by Junior Chamber International (JCI) Duwaling
- PROJECT DYENGEG (HEARD) (Theme and Focus: Indigenous Peoples Discrimination) by Malalag Tribal Council (MTC) – Malalag Tribal Youth (MATRIYOO)
- Teenage Pregnancy Prevention: Kaakuhan, Kaugmaon duyog kita kabatan- onang Agusanon (KKA) Program by Mindanao Tripartite Youth Core (MTYC) – Agusan Team
- Phangoyat ko Kalumbayan – TRASH TO TREASURE: HANDCRAFTING & RECYCLING by Mindanao Tripartite Youth Core (MTYC) – Iligan Team
- PROJECT: I AM SEMICOLON (Theme and Focus: Mental Health Awareness of Youth on Depression and Suicidal Cases) by Mindanao Tripartite Youth Core (MTYC) – Iligan Team
- Kinanao: Higaonon Cultures and Traditions (Theme and Focus: Cultural Revitalization) by Mindanao Tripartite Youth Core (MTYC) – Rogongon Team
- Language and Reading Illiteracy program by Philippine Youth Leadership Program (PYLP)
- Philippine Youth Leadership Program (PYLP) by Sisters Association of Mindanao (SAMIN)
- Lihok ug Pagkaylap program: We Rise by Uplifting Others by School of Saint John the Baptist (SSJB)
Ending it with a PEACEtival
The three-year program commenced with an online youth congress PEACEtival Concert, “Batingaw” on November 27, 2021. 14 tri-youth groups presented their advocacy projects. During the event, the album “Batingaw: Tinig Natin (Bell: Our Voices)” was launched. The tri-youth contributed to the production of the album, which is based on the poems they wrote, including the original theme song, “Katilingban sa Kalinaw (Community for Peace) Mindanao” which is both produced in Bisaya and Tagalog. El Gamma Penumbra (a Filipino all-male shadow play group, best known for being the winners of the first season of Asia’s Got Talent) rendered their interpretation of the song, “Tahanan Natin (Our Home)”.