Over a year since the end of
Marawi siege has passed and most of the residents of Lanao Del Sur are still
reeling from the effects of the five-month battle between government forces and
the ISIL terror group composed of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist
groups. While the long road to recovery is expected to take years, there are
organizations stepping up to the cudgel to help in the rehabilitation of those
affected by implementing and supporting various livelihood projects.
What Is #ForMindanao?
As part of its continuing
response to the Marawi crisis, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines through
Naawan HELPS, Inc has launched the #ForMindanao campaign supporting projects
throughout Mindanao led by Philippine alumni of U.S. government-sponsored
exchanges, many of whom have already played a crucial role in responding to
humanitarian needs in Marawi and surrounding areas.
Some of the on-going projects
supported by #ForMindanao includes:
KulturAKO and The Maranao Collectibles By Salika & Jardin
KulturAKO is a livelihood project
which aims to provide job security to locals through a training program
teaching the traditional art form of weaving. Aside from economic opportunity,
it also aspires to revive the dying culture of “Langkit weaving” in Lanao Del
Sur
Today, KulturAKO has partnered
with the Maranao Collectibles led by the husband and wife tandem of Salika and
Jardin in training university students and out-of-school youths to learn the
craft of weaving. In fact, during the Marawi Siege, armed only with improvised
weaving tools hastily built in the evacuation center, the couple trained dozens
of IDPs (Internally displaced persons) to learn the intricate craftmanship of
Langkit.
“Gusto namin mabura sa isip ng
mga tao na pag sinabi mo Maranao – sa ngayon – terrorista. Gusto namin ipakita
na meron din kaming kultura na ipinagmamalaki,” said Salika Samad.
Palapa sa Lumba
“Palapa” is a traditional Maranao dish made of
native shallots, chili and ginger. Preparing it involves mixing it all together
and beating it to a pulpy texture before cooking it on a low heated pan. It is
a popular side dish in the region. In the town of Lumba-Bayabao, Lanao del Sur,
where the land is fertile and perfect for farming shallots, #ForMindanao is
supporting a group of Maranao women to mass produce this Maranaoan dish.
Today, most of the volunteers are
composed of women who are engaging in backyard farming to produce this
Maranaoan dish as they start to accept bulk orders online through their
Facebook Page Super Lumba.
S.P.E.L.L Peace (Strengthen, Promote and and Encourage Love and Loyalty for PEACE in BUTIG)
SPELL Peace Project is a project
consisting of a series of activities such as Informative Drive Campaign on
Peace; Seminar-Workshop on Peace Education & Its Implementation; Tree
Planting, Family Day and Expression of Pledge of Commitment that encourages
community participation to become active agents of peace.
Peace Crops
“Drop seeds, not bombs” says the members of
Peace Crops – a volunteer organization composed of youth and community leaders
promoting agro-enterprise development among the youth – especially the ones
vulnerable to being recruited by terror groups.
By setting up demo farms in the
fertile lands of Marantao, Lanao Del Sur, #ForMindanao and Peace Crops aims to
train young people into becoming successful farmers and self-sustained agricultural
entrepreneurs.
Sound Intervention for Young Advocates of Peace (SIYAP)
Project “Siyap”, which means
“Protection” in Maranao, is a social and livelihood program aimed at helping
families of indigent detainees. A detainee can face trial lasting for many
years and often leaves behind family members especially their children to
become out of school youths. By undergoing training in financial literacy and
entrepreneurship, family members of a detainee will find another way to avoid further
financial, social and emotional suffering.
According to #ForMindanao “Each family of indigent detention prisoners of Provincial Jail, Tampilong, Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur shall be provided with start-up capital and mentored on how to start businesses.”
These are just some of the more
than a dozen projects being funded and monitored by #ForMindanao, in
coordination with various volunteer organizations spread out in the provinces
of Lanao Del Sur and Lanao Del Norte, as a way of easing out the effects of the
Marawi Siege. With the help of these livelihood and psych-social programs,
#ForMindanao hopes to see a radical improvement in the lives of those affected
by the Battle of Marawi.
