The Youth for Peace Movement of Davao de Oro (YFPM DDO) since its creation has been empowering fellow youth in the province through peace building activities.
Jess Elton Largado, YFPM DDO president, stressed during the Network Briefing New that one of their banner programs is the peace symposium, an information drive to prevent the infiltration of the Communist Party of the Philippine – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) amongst the youth.
“Bilang parte ng Strategic Communications Cluster of the Oplan Pagbabago Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC), kami ay nagsasagawa ng peace symposium under ng aming peace communication units to insulate our youth from the armed struggle,” he said.
Before the pandemic, Largado said that the group conducted these campaigns in partnership with the Department of Education inside school campuses, “since noon rampant pa ang recruitment ng left leaning organizations sa education sector.”
During the pandemic, the YFPM shifted to a virtual forum dubbed as Online Kalinaw Talks.
Seeing the struggle of internet connection among young Dabawenyos in the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), who are directly affected by the communist armed conflict, the information drive was converted into a Community Peace Symposium.
The youth group leader bared that during their forum, they invited former rebels to share their experiences and give tips on how to avert the persuasion of the communist group.
Meanwhile, Largado also encouraged the graduates of their Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) and Youth Peace Camps (YPC) to continue to volunteer and participate in their Volunteer Census through filling out an online form.
He also said that as of now, they are conducting community needs assessment for possible outreach and livelihood programs soon. (PIAXI/ Michael Uy)
