COTABATO CITY, BARMM – UNDP Philippines with the support of the European Union and in partnership with the PUKAW Youth For Peace Movement and the Municipality of Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao implemented the programme Youth Hub: Empowering Youth through Alternative Pathways to Positive Social Transformation. A series of workshops titled “Capacity- Development Through Transformational Leadership and Peacebuilding”, was organised on March 28-30, 2022 at Punta Isla, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. 

The training focused on capacitating the youth in peacebuilding and transformational leadership. Pressing issues such as elections, the roles of the youth and women in the community were in the center of discussion. Further, to explore more the potential of youth, the training offered practical workshop on social enterprise and small businesses to contribute to the economic development of the municipality. The training aimed to maximize the participation of the youth in the municipality's activities and allow them to contribute to peaceful decision-making, planning and implementation processes.

Seventy young people from the municipality of Rajah Buayantook part in practical workshops on leadership challenges, gender and youth empowerment, and such issues as misinformation, hate speech and fake news. Participants also engaged in practical training on social enterprise and business start-up ideas through GuLAYA Program of the LAYA Organization based in Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao.

The project plans to organise another training on Islamic Micro-finance and other relevant skills for the youth, in collaboration with the PUKAW Youth for Peace Movement.