| Festival showcases
People-led Initiatives
Kidapawan City - Community initiatives to attain peace and progress were heard and made known to almost two hundred (200) participants during the Peoples Organization (PO) Festival of Best Practices on May 11-12, 2006 at the Guadalupe Formation Center, Balindog, Kidapawan City.
The festival featured ten (10) PO presenters who showcased good practices in Peace Building, Women & Youth, Community Action and Economic Livelihood and performed authentic cultural presentations.
PO presenters were the Tri-boundary Coordinating Council (TRIBOCC) operating in Tulunan (Cotabato), Datu Paglas (Maguindanao), and Columbio (Sultan Kudarat); Lipi-Lipi Initiative for Farmers’ Empowerment (LIFE) and Women Initiative for Human Development Association (WIHDA) in Pagalungan (Maguindanao); GiNaPaLaDTaKa and G7 Farmers’ Core Group in Pikit (Cotabato); Tri-people Youth Organization (TPYO) in Carmen (North Cotabato); Sibayan Farmers Multi-Purpose Agricultural Cooperative (SIFAMPACO) in Bansalan (Davao del Sur); Kibudoc Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KMPC) in Matalam (Cotabato); Sagkungan’s Botika sa Barangay in Pres. Roxas (Cotabato); and Nasavakan Tarigunay’t Bukidnon du’t Kalindaan Federation (NATABUKFED) in Kibawe (Bukidnon).
The festival has indeed served its purpose in bringing community initiatives to the forefront of peace and development and in fostering better relationships by building a culture of sharing and learning among stakeholders.
Many of the participants have expressed satisfaction and joy for being able to share to one another and to the guests their initiated sound community practices. They were happy that the good practices and culture they have were recognized and appreciated. And they all hoped that there will be more festivals to come and more PO best practices to learn from.
Among the invited guests who attended are partners coming from the three other clusters of the Invisible Link, other NGOs, donor agencies, and government agencies.
The Invisible Link is an informal alliance of CSOs working in conflict affected areas in Mindanao striving to maximize sharing of information, experiences, good practices, technologies and others. All of which are aimed towards scaling up of people initiatives that have been proven effective in overcoming socioeconomic adversity.
The event was organized by Cluster 1 of the Invisible Link and is supported by Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Oxfam-NOVIB.
Members of the Invisible Link Cluster 1 are: Catholic Relief Services, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC), Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC), Balay Rehabilitation Center, Immaculate Conception Parish – Integrated Rehabilitation Program, Technical Assistance Center for the Development of Rural and Urban Poor (TACDRUP), Integrated Mindanaon Association for Natives (IMAN), Nasavakan Tarigunay’t Bukidnon du’t Kalindaan Federation (NATABUKFED) and Mindanao Land Foundation, Inc. (MinLand).
|
