Nurturing a New Generation of Peace Leaders

“I always dream of a better Marawi where children can freely play outside without fear in their hearts,” says Johaimah, a young peace leader and member of a youth peace club in a village in Marawi City that World Vision helped initiate for the children affected by Marawi Siege in 2017.

She expresses her deep longing of nurturing young citizens on peace education especially in her own community. “In their young age, these peace initiatives will be very helpful to provide them an avenue to speak up and participate.” she emphasizes.

World Vision’s “Empowering Children/Youth as Peace builders (ECaP)” initiative is part of the Marawi Peace and Protection (MPP) Project, which empowers children and youth ages 12-17 in becoming peace building trainers/facilitators for their peers in their respective schools and communities.

Core teams from different grade levels including high school students were organized to form teams to promote peace and conflict management among their peers. Peace Club team members were trained to build networks, and exchange good practices and learning in building peace and harmony. Subsequently, they rolled out what they have learned to their fellow children and youth. ECaP trained about 800 youth and children in Marawi City on the importance of peacebuilding.

“Children and youth structures were established in the communities towards peace and protection, increasing the resilience and life skills of children and youth to protect themselves and others,” explains Adonis Casinillo, World Vision Project Manager.

Johaimah shares that ECaP trainings made her appreciate the importance of peace education and conflict management in her practical life, and opens her eyes on the impact of involving children and youth in the peace process. “Children and youth are not mere spectators. We should be involved in our society’s concerns. We should have means to voice out our sentiments,” she expresses.

She also believes that respect and understanding are important values in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. “For us to solve conflict, unity and openness should be considered,” she reiterates.

MPP Project also supported the education sector with conflict-sensitive programming that promoted inclusion, sensitivity to the context, and valuing differences by establishing safe platforms and avenues where children and youth can continue to participate in promoting their rights and advocating peace in their own unique ways.

Johaimah is likewise thankful to ECaP trainings she attended in the past for it helped her build her confidence, and made her more committed in advocating her beliefs and knowledge.

“I really look up to our peace facilitators. I hope that one day I will be just like them, passionately advocating for peace.” Johaimah says. “I can’t say that I have already reached that same level of confidence that they have, but I am getting there,” she shares poignantly.

“On behalf of the children and youth in our community, we express our sincere gratitude to World Vision for providing us this wonderful opportunity to lead as peace advocates and to make a difference in creating a more peaceful and colorful Marawi” Johaimah concludes.