The Al Qalam Institute for Islamic Identities and Dialogue organized the Peace of You: CVE/PVE in Focus Regional Workshop last April 27-28, 2017 at the SEARSOLIN, Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City which highlighted the theme: Empowering Mindanaoan Youth through PVE/CVE Initiatives. It was attended by twenty-seven (27) young peace advocates from Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU), Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU), Mindanao State University (MSU) – Marawi, Mindanao State University (MSU) – IIT, Xavier University (XU) and I am Mindanao.
This workshop was conducted to gather baseline data directly from young Mindanaoans who are mostly from areas which experienced violent extremism through comprehensive workshops and dialogues. In addition, it was also maximized to determine the level of awareness among the young population of the island on Countering and Preventing Violent Extremism as well as to assess the extent of youth participation in the aforementioned cause in their own areas.
Youth Leaders from the Mindanaoan Youth Development Center (MYDC), Inc, Project Staff of the Al Qalam Institute for Islamic Identities and Dialogue in Southeast Asia and Founding Members of the Salaam Movement who have been involved in peacebuilding and CVE/PVE initiatives were invited to share their experiences and learnings on Youth Empowerment, Advocacy Development, Role of the Youth in PVE/CVE and Bridging Peacebuilding and CVE/PVE.
On the morning of the first day, Prime Nover Deles, the MYDC Executive Director and Project Assistant of Al Qalam Institute facilitated the plenary session and workshop on YOULead: Basic Youth Leadership. In the afternoon, Kenny Lloyd Angon, Board Chairperson of the MYDC led the discussions on YOU for the Youth: Advocacy Development while Althea Dannia Esmael, Project Coordinator of the Salaam Movement gave emphasis on her session on YOUth for Peace: The Role of the Youth in PVE and CVE. In the second day, Jorjani Sinsuat, a founding member of the Salaam Movement made a comprehensive presentation on YOU and Me: Bridging Peacebuilding and CVE/PVE while Mr. Angon was requested to have short session on the YOUth in Action: SMART Planning to guide the participants in making their final output.
At the last part of the workshop, the participants were also given the time to plan out and present SMART Youth-led PVE/CVE proposals which embodies the principles of necessity, beneficiality, practicability and sustainability. To check whether the aforementioned principles were considered, the proposals underwent critiquing for further development.
This activity report encapsulates the significant information gathered in the 2-day regional workshop. It also includes recommendations for further improvement of the activity and the action plans made by the participants.
