MY PEACE project launched in Zambo City

From the Philippine Information Agency-Zamboanga Peninsula Region (Oct 24): MY PEACE project launched in Zambo City

Madrasah Youth Promoting English Advancement for Community Empowerment or MY PEACE project was launched in Sarang Bangun Learning Center, Zamboanga City, Tuesday, October21, 2014 with Mr. Macon Philips, visiting U.S Department of State Official and Coordinator of the U.S Dept. of State Bureau of International Information Program along with other U.S officials gracing the event.

MY PEACE is  a year- long project of the U.S Embassy in Manila, in partnership with the Voice of Mindanao-Zamboanga Peninsula and the support of American Field Service, Fatwah Foundation and the HMIJ Islamic College. It empowers at risk-Madrasah students in Mindanao by providing English language and life skills training as positive alternatives to joining armed groups.

According to Ms. Frenzie Carreon, Voice of Mindanao project director, “this project is being implemented by a local youth NGO in Mindanao, Voice of Mindanao, Inc., in partnership with the Department of Education in Zamboanga City, and USG Alumni.  The project has two outcomes: teaching English to Madrasah students (Islamic schools); and providing the students with life skills training.”

“This project takes a two-pronged approach, combining English language learning with life skills.  The project began with a training of trainers (TOT) for 30 trained teachers from Zamboanga City with a high level of English proficiency, who participated in intensive 5-day training on English teaching methods.  Following the TOT, the MY Peace Teachers will provide 10 hours per session of English language instruction and 8 hours of English Language Application activities through social enterprise workshops and other lifelong learning to 60 students for one (1) year,” Ms. Carreon explained.

The project consists of 13 sessions which will be conducted on one to two weekends a month. During the project period, the 60 Madrasah students will receive two (2) hours of life skills training per session also delivered by U.S. government exchange program alumni, and entrepreneurial/
business/work skills for six (6) hours based on curricular programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), under the guidance and supervision of TESDA-certified trainers from MEIN College.

Carreon informed that Sarang Bangun Learning Center will serve as the base of implementation of MY PEACE project.  “This center is furnished with internet connectivity and computer equipment.  In the final three months of the project, the students will be encouraged to put what they have learned to use by creating and implementing community projects,” she concluded.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1401414057895