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YAP Mindanao works in the Zamboanga del Sur Province in Mindanao, Philippines. It is based in the town of Josefina in the northern part of the province and works through Peace Community Ambassadors - an active and dedicated committee of volunteers representing a wide crosssection of the local community.

The island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines is home to one of the world’s longest-running conflicts. Christians, Muslims, and local Indigenous groups are involved in a conflict that is often described in terms of religious orientation but at its root involves complex clashes of interest over land, natural resources, and political power.

In Josefina, YAP works with both the indigenous and settler populations to encourage and support local efforts to foster a culture of peace. Week-long peacemaking workshops that provide training in conflict transformation are an important part of this work. Each workshop includes a wide cross-section of the community including settler and indigenous populations, women and men, students and teachers, young and old, and people of varying occupations. YAP is increasingly also engaging with peacebuilding efforts between Christian and Muslim groups throughout other parts of Zamboanga del Sur building on earlier experience with this work elsewhere in Mindanao.

2011 Updates:

Given the specific challenges around landlessness and marginalisation, local participants in YAP have set out to establish a livelihood project to empower the Subanen community through Peace Community Ambassadors Inc (PCAI). The project, implemented in partnership with UnitingWorld Relief and Development, builds on the YAP workshops to provide opportunities for Subanen families to join an organic gardening and livestock cooperative and participate in health, microfinance and educational support programs. Land for this project has been purchased and over the next three years, PCAI will continue to work with local Subanen families in the implementation of livelihood and development programs in Josefina. A formation centre is being built on land held by Peace Community Ambassadors to allow for training, meetings, and YAP peace workshops which will continue to serve as are the pathway for participation in the other programs. YAP will also explore opportunities to grow beyond its base in Josefina in order to contribute to broader efforts seeking sustainable peace across Zamboanga del Sur Province.

More Than Peace

To Find out more about the appeal supporting this new project, please click here.

Downloadable Resources:

Project Sheet