MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/08 January) — Five youth leaders from Zamboanga City have made it to the next batch of the five-week intensive training on peace and good governance in the US this summer, the Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ) said in a statement today.
The training will be held at the Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, State of Illinois, and is sponsored by the Philippine Youth Leadership Program (PYLP), which is now on its 9th year.
The five youth leaders came from the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, and have been very involved in various peace activities during their high school days as volunteers of the Youth Solidarity for Peace, youth arm of PAZ and Interreligious Solidarity Movement for Peace.
Criseline Barredo, an alumnus of the Zamboanga National High School-West, was member of the supreme student government in high school, joined several peace camps, and became a writer for Compaz.
Arwald Candido, an alumnus of Zamboanga City High School Main, was active in the school-based Zamboanga Youth for Peace Organization. He wrote two books, El mendigo and Sa Harap ng Walang Katapusang Pangarap, in workshops with the Kids for Peace Foundation. Later, he received the prestigious Young Peace Weaver Award.
Judeann Grace Galvez, an alumnus of Pilar College-High School was active in the school’s supreme student government in various engagements with PAZ and YSP. She was instrumental in governance and leadership trainings in the campus.
John Xyrious Dela Cruz, an alumnus of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, received the prestigious Young Peace Weaver Award from PAZ and IRSMP during his graduation. He was instrumental in the conduct of the 2011 Summer Peace Camp for the youth and had submitted literary contributions to local publications. Moreover, he became YSP Volunteer and served at the ADZU’s Social Awareness and Community Service Involvement Office.
Fazniyara Lukman, an alumnus of Zamboanga City High School-Main, was an active volunteer of the ZYPO. She was a staff writer of the school paper, where she wrote mainly about her ideas for peace in the city. She had been involved in various peace camps including the Interschool Peace Camp.
PYLP 9 is organized by the US Department of State, Northern Illinois University, International Training Office, and American Field Service together with the ACCESS-PYLP Alumni Association. (MindaNews)