School Fora on Peace-building to Engage Students in Comval

NABUNTURAN, CVP - At least 55 Secondary Schools in Compostela Valley are set to be engaged by the Youth for Peace Movement (YFPM) Comval, as the 3rd Campus Peace Symposium (CPS) Drive will be implemented in the whole Province starting September 9 to 30, 2019.

With the theme "Engaging Student Leaders, Empowering Peacebuilders to Ripple Genuine Peacebuilding in the Zones of Peace," the month-long event will be conducted in celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month.

CPS is a flagship program of YFPM Comval that is being implemented by its 11 Municipal Chapters. It engages the student sector to inform, empower, and develop them as genuine peacebuilders in their respective campuses.

The event also serves as an avenue where student leaders are being involved in peacebuilding discussions through workshops, lectures, and teambuilding activities.

DepEd Memo Released

On September 3, 2019, the DepEd Comval, through the leadership of Dr. Reynante A. Solitario, released a Memorandum Order that supports the CPS and directs the 55 selected Secondary Schools in the Province to conduct the event in partnership with the YFPM.

According to Mr. Bren Cabatingan, President of the said organization, CPS serves as a mechanism for the Secondary Schools in Comval to support the DepEd Memorandum Order Number 109 series of 2019, which reiterates the department's manifestation to declare the Shools as "Zones of Peace."

"This is one of the reasons why DepEd Comval has been very supportive in allowing us to implement this program in its Schools because, somehow, it serves as a reinforcement to its Peace Education Curriculum, which extends beyond a classroom type of instruction," he said.

SSG Coordination

On September 4, 2019, Ms. Cristy Fannie Bonotan, President of Youth for Peace Movement (YFPM) Mabini, represented YFPM Comval during the Conference of the Supreme Student Government (SSG) and Supreme Pupil Government (SPG) Officers and Advisers at the Comval Hotel here.

During the said meeting, Ms. Bonotan presented the concept and objectives of the Campus Peace Symposium to the student and teacher attendees, to inform them of their role in implementing the said program in their schools.

Volunteer Speakers-Facilitators Trained

Meanwhile, the members of YFPM Comval who volunteered to be part of the Campus Peace Symposium Facilitating Team have also undergone a Speakers and Facilitators Training on September 7, 2019, at the Sanitary Hall, Poblacion, here, to equip themselves with relevant skills on facilitating and lecturing.

At least 24 volunteers were present during the said gathering where they were able to simulate the flow of CPS and discuss their tasks as implementors, speakers, and facilitators of the event in its roll-out.

Ms. Janice Clarion, the Provincial Youth Development Officer of Comval, who was also present during the training, challenged the young peace advocates to be more open in understanding the different concepts of peace and to be firm in their advocacy. She also encouraged them to help the government more in its thrusts for peace and development through volunteer works.

Aside from the Schools in the mainstreams, CPS is also expected to be conducted in Schools situated in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA). This initiative is part of the organization's main objective of inclusive youth participation and commitment to empowering the youth, especially those in communities that experience actual conflict.

The implementation of CPS is also in close coordination with the DepEd, SSG, Provincial Local Government Unit of Comval through the Provincial Youth Development Office, 1001st Infantry Brigade, PA, and Comval Provincial Police Office since 2017.


Written by: Peace Communication Committee | YFPM Comval