TAMPARAN, Lanao del Sur, Nov. 22 (PIA) - A total of 81 youth leaders from the municipalities of Maguing, Tamparan, Taraka and Mulondo signed-up for the three-day live-in leadership camp that aims to hone them to become better leaders and advocates of peace in their respective communities.

The summit, held at Tamparan Central Pilot Elementary School, was facilitated by the 5th Infantry 'Dutybound' Battalion (5IB) of the Philippine Army (PA), in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Save the Children Philippines, and the municipal government of Maguing, Tamparan, Taraka, and Mulondo.

"This is a leadership platform to introduce the young members of the community into leadership roles. It's not just the goal of making them leaders, it is also our goal to provide them a means to socialize with other members of their community," said 5IB commander Lt.Col. Romulos Rabara.

Rabara said they organized lectures on general information that the youth needs to 'know immediately' and to be discussed by certain subject-matter experts.

He said the summit will spur a new generation of ambassadors who will become instrumental in promoting peace, mutual respect, and progress in their localities by teaching them how to address current issues faced by the community on violent extremism and terrorism, the environment, education, social enterprise and innovation, and gender and development.

Mohammad Rasdam Usodan, a Sangguniang Kabataan president from Taraka town, expressed gratitude for being a part of the summit for the first time.

"Kami po ay maligayang naging parte sa programang ito kase dito namin mai-showcase ang participation and cooperation po natin para sa peace, order and development. Maiparating din po natin ang ating mga mabubuting adhikain natin o mga small initiatives sa mga programs and activities na dapat maisulong natin as youth leaders," Usodan shared.

[We are glad to be a part of this program where we could showcase our participation and cooperation for peace, order and development. I believe that this is also a venue for us to convey our advocacies or small initiatives through programs and activities that need to be recognized and implemented by youth leaders.]

Usodan is looking forward to new lessons and insights from the summit that he could share with his fellow-youth constituents back in their hometown.

"Kailangan as a leader, hindi puwedeng alam mo na lahat, kailangan continuous yung learning lalo na po kung ang kagustuhan natin ay yung mai-share natin sa kanila (mga kabataan) at maiparating po natin ang mga programs na matutunan natin dito sa Youth Leadership Summit in line for our education, livelihood and especially for governance," he added.

[As a leader, it is impossible for you to know it all, learning is continuous especially when you wanted to share what you've learned (to the youth), and to become a bridge of the programs that you've learned from the Youth Leadership Summit in line for education, livelihood and governance.]

Municipal chief executives also took part in the molding of their youth through the youth leadership summit.

One of them is Taraka town mayor Nashiba G. Sumagayan, a Civil Service Commission (CSC) "Pagasa" awardee, and an advocate of gender and development (GAD) who undoubtedly took part as a speaker of the summit.

Sumagayan underscored the importance of 'youth empowerment' to transform a better future for the next generations.

"They (the youth) are our future leaders and kailangan suporta-an natin sila para ma-mold yung minds nila to help in the delivery of our programs, projects, and social services in our respective localities," said Sumagayan. (CLGV/PIA-ICIC)