With the continuous armed conflict in Marawi and other areas in Mindanao as a result of penetration of ISIS in the country as well the proliferation of individuals and institutions supporting violent extremists, the Ateneo de Davao University through the Al Qalam Institute for Islamic Identities and Dialogues in Southeast Asia and the Madaris Volunteer Program (MVP) answered the call for initiating parallel programs to counter and prevent these actions through cultivating the culture of Dialogue and Peace Building. In line with this, the said institutions organized Conflict Management Training on August 28-30, 2017 at the AdDU Community Center.
The 3-day training which highlighted the theme Conflict Transformation and Peace Building Network was participated in by 11 young peace advocates from different youth organizations and Moro community partners in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and SocSarGen of Al Qalam Institute as well as the 8 volunteer teachers of the Madaris Volunteer Program. This workshop was conducted to so that the participants will be able to: (1) have knowledge about peace, interreligious dialogue and conflict transformation (2) have a good understand and interpretation of the culture diversity (3) share and adopt other participants peace efforts and best practices at their places (4) develop sense of empathy to others (4) create new peace networks among participants (5) encourage participants to make peace actions in their places, publish initiatives in journals, mass media, and social media.
The conference commenced with an Opening Program hosted by Mr. Afif Ambor, Islamic Finance Staff of Al Qalam after the welcome lunch at the Hotel Uno. Mr. Romulo Vinci R. Bueza, Assistant to the President for External Affairs and the Program Coordinator of Madaris Volunteer Program (MVP) welcomed the delegates on behalf of the Ateneo de Davao University President Fr. Tabora. He also explained the rationale and objectives of the activity. Afterwhich, Mr. Kenny Lloyd Angon, Board Chairperson of the MYDC and the general facilitator of the activity conducted the preliminary activities which included interactive introduction, levelling of expectations and setting of training rules.
The Al Qalam Institute for Islamic Identities and Dialogue in Southeast Asia tapped the Mindanaoan Youth Development Center (MYDC), Inc. to facilitate the activity and invited resource speakers to discuss the identified relevant topics in the seminar-workshop which includes Mr. Darwin Absari, University Researcher II of the Institute of Islamic Studies of the University of the Philippines Diliman; Mr. Romulo Vinci R. Bueza, Assistant to the President for External Affairs and the Program Coordinator of Madaris Volunteer Program (MVP) of Ateneo de Davao University, Datu Mussolini Sinsuat Lidasan, Executive Director of the Al Qalam Institute, Ms. Sophie Schellens, Project Manager of Forum ZFD. To give meaning to the information presented in the sessions, workshops were implemented after every discussion. In addition, to establish a bond among participants, the participants also underwent interpersonal and communication skills development through fun and learning filled Peacebuilding activities still facilitated by MYDC. On the last day, the participants who were divided into four (4) groups sat down and planned out doable and appropriate projects and activities to help promote conflict transformation and establish stronger and widespread peacebuilding networks.
This activity report which was documented by the Al Qalam and MYDC staff and volunteers encapsulates the significant information gathered in the 3-day event. It also includes recommendations and other pertinent attachments.
