PEACE CAMP 2012

The Peace Camp 2012 held at Kalinaw Hall, Institute of Peace and Development in Mindanao last November 24-25, 2012 was successfully conducted. With the theme “Challenging the challenges”, the camp tackled every issue regarding peace and conflict. The event was participated by students from the different colleges of MSU-IIT and was made possible by the collaborative efforts of GIZ Civil Peace Service, MSU-IIT IPDM and MSU-IIT Youth Chain of Peace (MYCop) headed by President Kevin Simacon.

Six resource speakers enthusiastically shared their own respective topics which were all basically about understanding and avoiding conflicts within the society. Having the will to make a difference, they motivated the eager participants to be advocates of peace and to be agents of change for a better nation and a better world. The speakers were Prof. Juvanni Caballero, a faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences, who talked about root history of Mindanao from its very beginning and the current peace process in Mindanao; Prof. Torres? of the College of Science and Mathematics, who shared his insights about conflict and violence with I twist of his field in genetic and evolution theory?; Prof. Sittie Nofaisah Pasandalan, an instructor of the College of Arts and Sciences, who addressed the idea of biases, discrimination and prejudices in the society that ignites misunderstanding; Ms. Rachel Navarez, an official of MSU-IIT IPDM, who expanded the idea of peace, conflict and negotiation; Esther Scharf, the German adviser of GIZ Civil Peace Service, who relayed the power of communication and how it can be a tool for both destruction and reconciliation of people; and Ms. Cristina Lomoljo, executive director of BirthDev, who conclude the lectures with her emotional recovery topic which included listening, psychosocial, counselling, debriefing and many more.

Aside from the very educational and informative talks, there were also fun activities prepared by the facilitators that were enjoyed by the “hyperactive” participants which include the labeling activity, team building/amazing race, peace visioning and others. The camp was all about promoting awareness among the youths of today about the present social issues and updates on the peace processes in the country. Also, it encouraged the youths to do their counterpart in the world.

The two-day camp was sure conducted for a very short period of time and not to mention the quite few numbers of participants who spared time for the community despite their busy schedule. What matters is knowing the fact that out of the thousand students of MSU-IIT, twenty-five students dared to spark a change. The twenty-five who dared to challenge the challenges.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Inaul: Weaving Peaceful Stories in Maguindanao

Image
Coming from Maguindanao, I always have to explain to my friends that Maguindanao is peaceful. I would always tell other people that Maguindanao is more than headlines about negative news we see on TV or on the internet. It is rare to hear good stories and narratives about the province so I had to be an unofficial ambassador with my key message:  "For the most part of Maguindanao, it is peaceful and the people have creative skills and talents that need to be shared." Echoing my personal message, the recent celebration of the 3rd Inaul Festival is proof how big the potential of the locals are. The festival showcased to the nation what Maguindanao can offer. Most importantly, it highlighted how the locals of different tribe and faith are celebrating their differences. The locals can be harmonious and can come together to create something positive. The beautiful diversity of the people is well-woven on the intricate and colorful pattern of inaul-- the symbol of identit...
Read more

Anyam Hablun 2023: Showcasing the Artistry and Ingenuity of Women of Sulu

Image
Makati City, May 23, 2023 - The women entrepreneurs of Accelerate Sulu are proud to announce their upcoming second national expo of cultural products, showcasing the diverse skills of women in the Province of Sulu. The exhibition, titled "Anyam Hablun 2023", will take place at The Gallery, 2 nd floor, Greenbelt Mall 5, Makati City on May 25-27, 2023, and will feature an array of cultural products, including traditional weaves, handmade crafts, and delicious food, all created by the women entrepreneurs. This event provides an opportunity for women from Sulu to come together and celebrate and promote their beautiful cultural heritage. It also serves as a platform for them to showcase their talent and ingenuity to a broader market. "We are thrilled to be able to share our cultural products with the larger audience in Metro Manila," said Ms. Rosemain Abduraji, Executive Director of Tumikang Sama-Sama Inc., who is working directly with Accelerate Sulu women. "We ho...
Read more

“South Korea’s Refugee Policies: National and Human Security Perspectives”: A Review and Analysis

Image
This academic essay was written for a school paper assignment in grad school.  Introduction             The global refugee crisis has been more prevalent over the past years. With the continuous outbreak of conflict in certain parts of the world, it has been reported that over 26 million people are displaced and seeking refuge in other countries (UNHCR 2020) . Among the host countries in Asia-Pacific, South Korea has the lowest acceptance rate according to World Data. Controversies have emerged regarding this East Asian country’s half-baked commitment to refugee response. The case of North Korean refuge seekers (defectors), however, is an exemption. In the article, “South Korea’s Refugee Policies: National and Human Security Perspectives”, Shin-wa Lee demonstrated the refugee policies of South Korea and its challenges of balancing national and human security. She explained how different administrations responded with incons...
Read more