NORTH Cotabato Governor Lala Taliño-Mendoza reiterated the constant advocacy of peace is a shared responsibility of the community where the youth are the changemakers.
Mendoza emphasized this during the Mindanao Week of Peace 2024 culmination at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) Auditorium, Kabacan, Cotabato on Tuesday, December 3.
In a message addressed to USM students, she stressed the relevance of the role of the youth and tagged them as “change-makers of today.”
“With consistent advocacy of peace in your schools, communities, and homes, you plant the seeds for a brighter and more peaceful tomorrow,” Mendoza stressed.
She shared that the government continues to focus programs on leadership skills and the development of the youth under her administration.
This includes the recently concluded Cotabato Young Leaders Congress (CYLC) which was participated by about 100 students from various colleges and universities in the province.
The 3-day event from November 4-6 trained students on servant leadership to influence their fellow youth in the community through workshops, lectures on peacebuilding in action, and panel discussions.
Meanwhile, the 11th Summer Kids Peace Camp which was launched on June 3 also focused on the skills training of incoming Grade VI pupils from public schools in the province.
The peace camp, which was attended by 1,477 pupils, stressed the relevance of “peaceful co-existence” and unity amid diversity of race and religion– Muslims, Christians, and the Indigenous Peoples.
The Provincial Youth and Development Division logged about 30,936 upcoming Grade VI pupils will undergo the peace camp.
The governor emphasized these activities aim to hone the skills of the Cotabateño youth for peacekeeping in their respective communities.
The Mindanao Week of Peace 2024 was led by the United Moro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated under SGA-BARMM and Municipality of Kapalawan Vice Mayor Designate Toto D. Laguialaot.
Photo by Bing Gonzales
