MANILA, Philippines - “Early marriage is common among the Badjao youth; and women are bullied and called names not only in our community but also by those from other groups,” shares Nadzmil Jehan, 24, from Bonggao, Tawi-Tawi. She grew up in a region where peace is erratic and conflict easily escalates, making their adolescent years particularly difficult.
In addition, social issues such as school bullying, illegal drug use and alcoholism, mental disorders, violence, early marriage and teenage pregnancy, and high infection rates of sexually transmitted diseases are widespread among the adolescent group.
Last December, the Health Organization Mindanao and UNICEF rolled out the ‘Creating Connections’ program, a life-skills initiative providing creative spaces for the 15-24 age group to participate in discussions of issues concerning them. It empowers the youth to connect with stakeholders in the community, including the government; fosters a network of young humanitarian volunteers; and trains them to become peer facilitators on health, peace, leadership and inter-faith dialogues.
“It is one of UNICEF’s adolescent programs promoting child and youth rights through HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, sexual and reproductive health education, human rights, participatory development, violence prevention, leadership and peace-building,” explained Rebecca Pankhurst, UNICEF Philippines chief of field operations in Cotabato.
As of June 2015, 3,169 in- and out-of-school youth from Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao andLanao del Sur have participated in the program.
“The sessions have helped me and the youth from other groups to change our mindset about ourselves, as well as our different goals in life,” Nadzmil shared.
Having life skills allows the youth to positively adapt to the changing demands and challenges in their lives.
Director Bai Liverty Sinsuat-Mama of Mindanao State University-Maguindanao said, “The project is very timely and relevant. While there may be conflict, teachers and peer facilitators continue teaching children in creative ways that keep them interested.”
Since the inception of ‘Creating Connections’ in December 2014, seven month-long sessions have been rolled out across Mindanao. This culminated in the ARMM-wide ‘Youth Caravan: Kabataan, Now Na!’ last 30 July in Maguindanao.
The series of activities – from the ‘Creating Connections’ sessions to the youth caravans – yield one very important insight: the youth of this generation is not only a participant; but part of the process.
Given the new context of conflict situations and how they address issues on health and education, engaging the youth in a participatory approach enhances the overall objectives of facilitating peace, leadership and positive change in their respective communities.
While eradicating the social issues that face the youth today is still a long process ahead, ‘Creating Connections’ programs have set a strategic beginning in overcoming hurdles one by one. At the moment, the young people of ARMM have embraced the multiplicity of their cultures as one community; and they have started advocating for more activeparticipation in policy dialogues.
In the future, the large population of young leaders in the region will realize the potentials they have unlocked but that will hinge on sustainable investments for their future.
This is a future that the rest of the country shares. After all, we are all connected as one community.