The Bangsamoro Development Agency-Central Mindanao (BDA-CenMin) Region conducted three-day youth recreational activities for the youth focal point (YFP) under the Child Protection Program (CPP) implemented in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on June 14-16, 2015 at Upper Idtig, Paglat, Maguindanao.

Upper Idtig is among the four (4) communities under Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) controlled areas identified and selected for pilot implementation of the CPP.

The program started with messages of support from various stakeholders.

Recreational kits were distributed to the participants before program proper started.

Participants to the program were students of Mahad Darul Uloom located in the said barangay.

During the activity, youth participants enjoyed various ball games such as volleyball, soccer, badminton, and sepak takraw; academic and literary competition like quiz and drama; and parlor games like planting rice and egg throwing.

Naut Usman, BDA-CenMin regional coordinator of BDA project partnership with UNICEF said that through such games, youth participants were thought of the value of sportsmanship.

Usman recognized the support of community stakeholders in the success of the event.

“The 3-day activity is very successful as the community stakeholders are very united and supportive particularly to any development intervention facilitated or implemented by BDA. The level of their wisdom to take good care of the children and youth is so high that makes it among their priority concern”, he further said.

“Children and youth are also among the priority concern of the BDA-CenMin Region,” Usman added.

BDA-CenMin Region is the proponent of youth development program (YDP).

Message of support from stakeholders

Ustaz Abdulnasser Kamadla, Modir of this Madrasah (Islamic school) said this day is a great event that serves as mean to further strengthen our unity while developing our youth in the spirit of sportsmanship in line with the teachings of Qur’an and Sunnah.

Norodin Anok, MILF Political Committee (PolCom) Chairman of Paglat MunicipaIity said, the activity in particular is developing the youth while preparing them to become pious and responsible Bangsamoro as successor of our tomorrows.

Brgy. Upper Idtig MILF (PolCom) Chairman Guiamilon Kenok described the event as not just serving the youth of Upper Idtig but all other stakeholders of this barangay because of transformative development it renders that makes into more supportive community for peace and development.

YFP President Abujihad Anok encouraged everyone to welcome and strongly support the event by being cooperative and discipline.

“This is a great opportunity for us to learn the spirit and practice of sportsmanship,” Anok said.

Anuar Cabalu from BDA-CenMin said, “let us give importance to this event by being united and strongly supportive”.

While Maamon Ebrahim, BDA-CenMin community organizer of this project shared that “the activities aimed at strengthening the bonding and teamwork of the youth in this area in collaboration with the community of Upper Idtig”.

According to Ansari Abubacar, CPP focal person, “representatives from barangay local government unit (BLGU) of Upper Idtig, Police Provincial Force (PPF) of MILF in Paglat Municipality and great number of both young and adult also joined the 3-day event”.

“The participation of all stakeholders and sectors in the community is a sign of their strong unity and support. They even shared their counterpart by slaughtering a cow during the last day of the event,”Abubacar added.

Mohammad Omar, PPF Representative of Paglat Municipality encouraged all to take good care of this endeavor as its fruit is a wisdom that strengthen unity and support to the peace and development of not just for the community of Upper Idtig but also contributive to the entire Bangsamoro.

Youth recreational activity is part of the implementation of the CPP.

As integral component of the Tahderiyyah program of BDA, CPP aims at promoting child’s rights and protection focusing on instituting Systems Based Approach to Child Protection in Bangsamoro communities in core areas of MILF through establishing Community-Based Child Protection Network (CBCPN).