COTABATO CITY (Oct. 14, 2024) — A total of 180 youth community partners from eight towns within the SPMS Box of Maguindanao del Sur are currently participating in a five-day Basic Organization and Leadership Training as part of the Youth Empowerment in the SPMS-Box project.
These trainings, which began on October 7 and will run until October 25, focus on building educational and leadership capacities and supporting youth organizations in the area.
This week’s session, which started on October 14, includes participants from Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Mamasapano, and Rajah Buayan. The first group of community partners, from Datu Salibo and Datu Piang, completed their training last week. Next week, participants from Datu Saudi-Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, and Shariff Aguak will undergo the same training.
Spearheaded by the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) through the Special Development Fund (SDF), the initiative aims to equip out-of-school youths (OSYs) with essential leadership and organizational skills. These skills are critical in helping OSYs manage their organizations and contribute to peace-building efforts in the conflict-affected areas of Maguindanao.
Key sessions, such as “Volunteerism,” “The Peace Process and Organizational Management,” and leadership development in Islam, are being facilitated by BYC staff. These workshops emphasize ethical leadership, cultural sensitivity, and advocacy as tools to address community challenges.
Participants are also gaining hands-on experience in project planning, proposal writing, and communication strategies, empowering them to lead and strengthen their community organizations.
In his remarks, BYC Commissioner Nas Dunding underscored the importance of youth leadership and proactive involvement in community development:
“We are committed to equipping the youth with the knowledge and skills they need, especially as we approach the 2025 elections, which will see principle-based political parties and sectoral representation.”
“Despite the ongoing challenges in our communities, it is crucial to continue improving literacy and taking advantage of every opportunity. Don’t let these chances go to waste—share what you learn with your communities, organize the youth, and take initiative. We don’t have to wait for the government to act; we can make our dreams a reality by writing proposals and striving for the betterment of our communities,” he added.
The Youth Empowerment in the SPMS-Box project seeks to address the needs of over a hundred OSYs, aiming to integrate them into social and economic systems while encouraging their active participation in public affairs.
These youth community partners also underwent an Alternative Learning System (ALS) classes prior to this training. (BYC PR Unit/AAA)
