COTABATO CITY (June 3, 2024) — Some former young combatants and children of Mujahideen are now ready to operate their cooperatives after undergoing intensive cooperative governance and management training in Cotabato City from May 27 to 31.
The youth groups are beneficiaries of the Youth Reintegration Program (YRP), also known as the Positive Peace Project (3Peace). It is a Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) project under its Special Development Fund.
The beneficiaries were selected from the 10 camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front across the Bangsamoro region.
Facilitated by BYC and the Cooperative and Social Enterprises Authority (CSEA), the five-day training equipped them with the essentials of cooperative operation and management. Participants engaged in various learning sessions, workshops, and simulation activities.
One of the YRP’s components is the formation of cooperatives that will operate in their respective camps. In December 2023, the 200 beneficiaries completed their technical-vocational skills training and were awarded approximately 14 million pesos in seed grants to fund their selected business operations.
BYC Chairperson Marjanie Mimbantas Macasalong said that through the project, BYC aims to foster the positive transformation of former young combatants and the sons and daughters of Mujahideen and their meaningful reintegration into society.
Macasalong added that the project’s outcomes will help shape policy actions and development agendas that the Commission will champion.
Another phase of the training will be held in Zamboanga City, which beneficiaries from camps in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi will attend. (BYC PR Unit/KAA)
