Mindanao Young Social Cohesion Fellows

The Mindanao Young Social Cohesion Fellows Program is a dynamic initiative designed to empower youth leaders from diverse backgrounds across Mindanao to become catalysts for positive change in their communities. Through a combination of project-based learning, online sessions, and real-world projects, the program aims to foster social cohesion, promote inclusive development, and strengthen youth engagement. 

Program Objectives

1. Foster Social Cohesion: The program aims to cultivate a sense of unity and understanding among youth leaders from diverse backgrounds, including the Tri-People communities of Mindanao, by providing them with opportunities to collaborate on projects that address vertical and horizontal tensions within their communities.

2. Promote Inclusive Development: By focusing on addressing economic inequities and fostering inclusive development, the program seeks to empower youth to become active contributors to their communities' progress, ensuring that marginalized voices are heard and included in decision-making processes.

3. Strengthen Youth Engagement: Through project-based learning and real-world projects at the school or community levels, the program aims to enhance youth engagement in local governance and community development initiatives. Fellows will be encouraged to co-create new institutional arrangements with various stakeholders to ensure sustainable impact and lasting change.

Program Design and Implementation

• Tri-People Approach: The program will adopt a Tri-People approach, recognizing the diverse cultural backgrounds of Mindanao's population, including Christians, Muslims, and Indigenous Peoples. Fellows will be encouraged to work together across these cultural divides, promoting understanding, respect, and cooperation.

• Addressing Vertical and Horizontal Tensions: Fellows will undergo training on conflict resolution, adaptive leadership, and bridging leadership to equip them with the skills necessary to identify and address vertical (between generations) and horizontal (between communities) tensions. They will intervene through their projects to introduce a culture of peace and social cohesion.

• Project-Based Learning: Fellows will work in teams to develop and implement real-world projects aimed at addressing social, economic, and cultural challenges within their communities. They will use the Problem-driven Iterative Adaptation methodology to rapidly prototype interventions, ensuring responsiveness to community needs and iterative improvement.

• Monthly Progress Reports: Fellows will submit 3-6 minute video reports monthly, documenting the progress of their projects. These reports will serve as a platform for reflection, peer learning, and accountability.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Fellows will be encouraged to collaborate with local schools, barangays, faith-based organizations, schools of public administration, local government units, and other stakeholders to co-create sustainable solutions to community challenges. They will draw upon good practices from Galing Pook Awards cases to inform their interventions and maximize impact.

Social Cohesion and Centers of Youth Participation

The Mindanao Young Social Cohesion Fellows Program can integrate social cohesion themes under the 10 CENTERS OF PARTICIPATION by designing projects and activities that address each of these areas while fostering unity, understanding, and cooperation among youth leaders from diverse backgrounds. Here's how social cohesion themes can be integrated into each center:

• Governance: Fellows can initiate projects focused on promoting inclusive governance processes that involve youth participation and representation. They can organize youth-led forums, workshops, and campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of youth voices in decision-making and encourage active engagement in local governance structures.

• Active Citizenship: Projects under this center can emphasize the role of youth as active agents of change in their communities. Fellows can organize community service activities, volunteer projects, and youth-led initiatives aimed at addressing local issues and promoting civic responsibility among their peers.

• Health (includes Sports Programs): Fellows can develop health and sports programs that not only promote physical well-being but also foster social cohesion. For example, they can organize sports tournaments and wellness activities that bring together youth from different cultural backgrounds, promoting teamwork, friendship, and mutual respect.

• Education: Projects in this center can focus on promoting inclusive education and intercultural understanding. Fellows can organize cultural exchange programs, language learning initiatives, and educational workshops that celebrate diversity and promote dialogue among youth from different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

• Peace-Building & Security: Fellows can initiate peace-building projects that address vertical and horizontal tensions within their communities. They can organize interfaith dialogues, conflict resolution workshops, and peace education campaigns aimed at promoting understanding, tolerance, and reconciliation among youth from diverse backgrounds.

• Environment: Projects under this center can focus on environmental sustainability and community resilience while promoting social cohesion. Fellows can organize tree planting activities, clean-up drives, and eco-friendly initiatives that engage youth in collective action for the common good of their communities.

• Agriculture: Fellows can develop agricultural projects that promote inclusive development and economic empowerment among marginalized communities. They can establish community gardens, agricultural cooperatives, and sustainable farming practices that provide opportunities for youth from different backgrounds to collaborate and learn from each other.

• Economic Empowerment: Projects in this center can focus on empowering marginalized youth through entrepreneurship and skills development. Fellows can organize training workshops, job fairs, and microenterprise initiatives that provide economic opportunities for youth from diverse backgrounds, fostering social inclusion and equity.

• Social Inclusion & Equity: Fellows can initiate projects that address social inequalities and promote inclusivity within their communities. They can organize awareness campaigns, advocacy events, and empowerment programs aimed at challenging discrimination, prejudice, and stigma while promoting social cohesion and solidarity among youth.

• Global Mobility: Projects under this center can focus on promoting cross-cultural understanding and global citizenship among youth in Mindanao. Fellows can organize international exchange programs, cultural immersion trips, and global awareness campaigns that expose youth to diverse perspectives and experiences, fostering empathy, respect, and cooperation across borders.