BMG renews commitment to Equity, Peace and Development
Posted 6 July 2006
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| The Balay Mindanao Group of NGOs |
SEVENTY-FIVE young and dynamic development workers under the Balay Mindanaw Group of NGOs gathered together as a family in its “ancestral home” in Cagayan de Oro City. They renewed their commitments to the development of rural communities in Mindanao by strengthening the family ties and help build stronger groups and relationships, as well as capacities and interactions.
The Balay Mindanaw Group of NGOs consists of four institutions, namely, the Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI), Balay Alternative Legal Advocates for the Development in Mindanaw (BALAOD), Resource Center for Empowerment & Development (RCED) and Balay Dabaw Sur, Inc. (BDSI). All of these NGOs have one Vision of Equity: Development and Peace in Mindanaw, in the Philippines and in the Whole World. Their missions and goals interact, share and relate towards helping build peace in Mindanao.
In the two-day mid-year assembly last July 4-5, 2006, the BMG family agreed to continue the development of staff and development workers in order to effectively respond to the present challenges, sustain the operation of peace building by training peace builders, forming mechanisms of peace at the grassroots level and seeking venues for conflict transformation. The group made sure to continue meeting regularly to enhance capabilities, make history, celebrate victories, renew commitment, improve the culture of peace, maintain relationships, improve strategies and learn from the sharings, experiences and journeys.
Major undertakings of BMG include the preparation and hosting of the Negotiation Workshop on the Peace Processes in Mindanao in September 2006 and First Asian Peace Builders’ Forum in October 2006 to be held at the Peace Center. Other activities include the Deepening Workshop on Sustaining & Integrating Agriculture in Diversified Farms, Peace Building Training for Indigenous Peoples, Paralegal Formation Training for MISORET. BMG will continue to facilitate the Joint Secretariat Workshops of the GRP-RPMM Peace Process and conduct the Roundtable Discussions on Peace Building and Conflict Management in Southern Philippines with OPPAP and the Department of National Defense this July.