Youth takes center stage in Mindanao peace week celebration

 From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 4, 2020): Youth takes center stage in Mindanao peace week celebration (By Edwin Fernandez)

YOUNG PEACE LEADER. Bangsamoro Youth Commission chair Marjanie Macasalong delivers the opening remarks during the Mindanao Week of Peace culmination in Cotabato City on Thursday (Dec. 3, 2020). The youth leader emphasized the importance of the youth in shaping the region’s future through peace and development. (Photo courtesy of BYC)

COTABATO CITY – The roles of the young in peacebuilding in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were highlighted in this year’s culmination celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace (MWP) here on Thursday afternoon.

“The youth are valuable innovators and active agents of positive change,” said Marjanie Macasalong, chairperson of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC), during the program.

He added that the group has significant roles in peace promotion and community development.

“Young people played an important role in the Bangsamoro peace process, and they continue to play an important role in safeguarding this peace,” said Macasalong who is also a member of parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) representing the youth.

The culmination activity anchored on its theme, “Zooming-in the Bangsamoro Peace Narratives”, was held at 4 p.m. at the Bangsamoro government center in this city.

It showcased inspiring stories of selected youth peace advocates and leaders in different fields of governance, education, active citizenship, environment, health, and peace-building.

Al-Fatah Abdullah, a youth who shared his story during the culminating program, recalled how difficult it was for him to work for an end to “rido” (family feud) his clan was locked into.

“Retaliation is not, and will never be the solution,” Abdullah emphasized.

Faced with numerous cases of rido in their community, he engaged his fellow youth to join him in acts of peace and resort to peaceful negotiations through their “RIDOnt for Lasting Kamapiyaan” (No rido for lasting peace) campaign.

The MWP is celebrated throughout Mindanao from last Thursday of November until the first Wednesday of December for the past nine years.

The event was simultaneously commemorated in Mindanao with local peace advocates and youth taking part in building a culture of peace on the island.

The BYC led the program along with other youth groups in the Bangsamoro region.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123814