NegOr’s youth leaders join Youth Leadership Summit in Lanao del Norte

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 30): NegOr’s youth leaders join Youth Leadership Summit in Lanao del Norte

Youth representatives from Gaba-an Youth Lead, New Ground events, GawadKalinga Community Development Foundation, and Youth For Development (Y4D) recently joined the 15th Infantry Battalion in the recent Youth Leadership Summit in Lanao del Norte.

The summit gathered over 700 Muslim and Christian youths for a Youth Leadership Summit from seven municipalities of Lanao del Norte.

According to Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation coordinator Joseph Ceriales, the event was highlighted by #Tatak Selfie, a self-worth summit module to provide engaging, on-site, interactive learning experiences for the youth with self-awareness to make them stewards or agents of change in the country.

The activity, which banners the theme “Kapayapaan Nating Minimithi Magsisimula sa Ating Sarili”, also aims to make the youth more responsible citizens of their communities.

The 15th Infantry (Molave Warrior) Battalion of 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army led some facilitators from across the country including from Negros Oriental in organizing the summit to promote peace in the area.

Ceriales said the army battalion headed by 15th Infantry Battalion commanding officer Ltc. Leomar Jose Doctolero showed their courageous and selfless work in making the huge youth gathering a success.

“They have made a great impact in their Youth Leadership Summit campaign activities which targeted the seven towns of Lanao Del Norte. They consistently worked closely with the local government units. 700 smiles and 700 lifted spirits were successfully achieved through the event,” said Ceriales.

Together with the efforts of the soldiers who generously lent their time and effort to make the event possible, Ltc. Doctolero said this signified that Bayanihan is still alive in the hearts of every Filipino.

With hundreds of youths in Lanao del Norte and around the country that participated in the event, he said "we have real heroes who give tireless time and effort in building a better community for us."

The gathering has produced a mutual youth plan outlining the development of young Filipinos who will lead the future of their community towards peace and sustainable development.

This is in cooperation with the Gaba-an Youth Lead, New Ground events, GawadKalinga Community Development Foundation, and Youth For Development (Y4D).

Ceriales said the event was just part of the beginning that inspire the spirit of Bayanihan and empower more youths and more communities to bring hope and peace in every household in the area.

“For most people, stories of war in critical areas in Mindanao are nothing out of the ordinary. The never-ending clashes and failed talks have created a sense of hopelessness for many. But with this summit, all these misconceptions run counter to what the participants saw and heard from the soldiers,” Ceriales observed.

Philippine Army, together with its project partners, has taken the first step indeed of renewing the youths of Lanao del Norte, bringing inspiration to the entire region, and to those from the Visayas, said Gawad Kalinga coordinator.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1111446173211/negor-s-youth-leaders-join-youth-leadership-summit-in-lanao-del-norte