In the conflict-scarred town of Mamasapano, where dreams often fade as quickly as they are born, 24-year-old Zuhaina Zainudin once believed her chance at education had vanished forever. Raised in a family of eleven, with a meager income from small-scale fishing, every day felt like a battle for survival. Not anymore. Zuhaina now stands as a symbol of hope, her dreams rekindled by the Bangsamoro Youth Commission’s (BYC) Youth Empowerment in the SPMS Box project.
Dreams Deferred by Conflict and Poverty
“Ang buhay ko po noon ay napakahirap kasi walang permanenteng trabaho ang tatay ko at nanay ko. Pinagkakakitaan lang nila po ay pangingisda at ang nanay ko naman po naglalako lang sa kahit saan na lugar basta mabenta lang po ang isda niya (My life back then was very difficult because my parents didn’t have permanent jobs; they made a living from fishing. My mother would go around selling fish anywhere she could, just to make a sale),” Zuhaina recalls. Like many youth in Mamasapano, her education was interrupted—not by choice, but by circumstance. After finishing Grade 8, she had to drop out due to financial constraints and recurring conflicts. Her dreams of pursuing higher education were put on hold.
Living in the SPMS Box—an area notorious for ongoing conflicts between armed groups and government forces—Zuhaina, like many others, found herself caught between poverty and violence. “Doon po sa amin laging may gyera doon at laging binabaha ang aming lugar kaya hindi kami makapag-aral (There were always armed coflicts in our place, and floods were frequent, so we couldn’t go to school),” she shares. The combination of limited opportunities, widespread conflict, and lack of access to education forced many young people to give up on their dreams.
Zuhaina’s experience is just one example of how deeply conflict and poverty have impacted the youth in the SPMS Box. In this area, many young people face the same struggles of limited access to education and constant disruption. But through the BYC project, there is a growing sense of hope.
The SPMS Box Project: Rebuilding Hope
The Youth Empowerment in the SPMS Box project, implemented by the BYC under the Bangsamoro Government’s Special Development Fund (SDF), focuses on empowering out-of-school youth from eight towns within the conflict-ridden SPMS Box and neighboring towns in Maguindanao del Sur. These areas have been deeply affected by violence, poverty, and instability, creating significant challenges for youth to thrive and meaningfully contribute to their family and community. The project aims to reintegrate these individuals into society through education, leadership training, and community advocacy initiatives.
For Zuhaina, being part of this project meant more than just returning to education. It meant reigniting a sense of purpose that she thought had been lost. Through the Alternative Learning System (ALS) provided by the project, she once again felt motivated to learn and strive for a better future. “Ngayon sa muling pagbabalik sa paaralan sa ilalim ng ALS, mas nararamdaman ko ang aking motibasyon na abutin ang mga pangarap na pansamantalang naantala (Now that I’m back in school through ALS, I feel motivated to achieve the dreams that were once put on hold),” she says.
A Journey of Transformation
Zuhaina’s reentry into education was not just a personal triumph but also a deeply emotional journey. “Hindi ako nawawalan ng pag-asa na balang araw maabot ko ang pangarap ko (I never lose hope that one day I will reach my dreams),” she says. “Ang asawa ko po ay ang dahilan kung bakit gusto kong makapagtapos ng pag-aaral kahit may sarili na akong pamilya (My husband is the reason I want to finish my education, even though I now have a family of my own).”
In addition to Zuhaina, many other young people from the region have found renewed hope through the project. Raymond Ulangkaya, a 24-year-old from the adjacent town of Rajah Buayan, echoes his sentiments: “Bago ang proyekto, hindi ko akalaing magkakaroon ako ng pagkakataon na magkaroon ng kinabukasan. Ngayon, gusto kong maging guro at tumulong sa iba pang mga bata sa aking barangay (Before the project, I never thought I would have a chance at building a future. Now, I want to become a teacher and help other kids in my village).”
With the support of the SPMS Box project, Zuhaina and other youth in the area have access to ALS and various capacity development training sessions that include basic organizational management, leadership, and advocacy development. They are paired with mentors who help them identify community issues and offer guidance on how to develop their advocacy initiatives. This component of the project not only equips them with practical skills but also gives them the capacity to become active changemakers in their communities.
Zuhaina’s ALS teacher, Laysa Yunos, has witnessed firsthand the difference the project has made in her students’ lives. “Nakikita talaga namin na mas pursigido silang matuto, dahil unlike dati, nahihiya pa sila. Ngayon, nakikita natin na mas confident silang humarap sa mga kaklase nila (We can really see that they are more determined to learn because, unlike before, they were still shy. Now, we can see that they are more confident when facing their classmates),” Laysa shares. She also highlights how the program has instilled a new sense of hope in the community. “In shaa’ Allah, sana lahat sila ay makapasa sa assessment dahil alam namin na marami pang plano ang Bangsamoro Youth Commission para sa kanila (God willing, I hope all of them pass their assessments because we know the Bangsamoro Youth Commission has many more plans for them).”
Building Leaders for Lasting Change
The project doesn’t stop at education. It aims to build a sustainable future for the youth through the formation of youth organizations and the implementation of community projects. This ensures that even after the youth complete their training, they can continue to contribute meaningfully to their communities, helping to build peace and stability in the region.
For Zuhaina, this project has not only transformed her life but also her perspective on what’s possible for the youth in the Bangsamoro region. “Ang masasabi ko po sa kanila ay huwag silang mawalan ng pag-asa dahil hindi hadlang ang kahirapan upang tumigil kayo. Nandiyan na ang Bangsamoro Government na handang tumulong sa inyo (I want to tell others not to lose hope because poverty is not a reason to stop pursuing education. The Bangsamoro Government is here, ready to help),” she urges, now with a voice full of confidence and conviction.
Looking Ahead: A Future Full of Possibilities
As the Youth Empowerment in the SPMS Box project continues to make strides in rebuilding conflict-affected communities, it serves as a reminder of the power of education and empowerment. Zuhaina’s story is just one of many, but it encapsulates the heart of BYC’s vision for the Bangsamoro youth: a meaningfully engaged and empowered youth for a sustainable and progressive Bangsamoro.
In Zuhaina’s words, “Ang edukasyon ang pag-asa ng kabataan at ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan (Education is the hope of the youth, and the youth are the hope of our nation).” Through initiatives like the BYC’s, that hope is becoming a reality in the SPMS Box and beyond. (BYC PR Unit/KAA)
