𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝟑-𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝟑-𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧 Young Indigenous Peoples (IP) leaders from six barangays in Zamboanga City came together on October 24–26, 2025, for the Bridging Leadership Learning Exchange and Evaluation of Youth Engagement Projects, organized by ZABIDA and Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ) with support from ASMAE Philippines. Held across key sites in Isabela City and Maluso, Basilan, the 3-day activity provided IP youth with hands-on learning on leadership, peacebuilding, community engagement, and intercultural understanding. The program began with an evaluation session led by Alex Molas, MEALO under ZABIDA where youth participants from Sinunuc, Talon-Talon, Calarian, Kasanyangan, Arena Blanco, and Rio Hondo reflected on their project gains, challenges, and future plans. This was followed by a planning session facilitated by Espie Hupida, Executive Director of ZABIDA who emphasized that meaningful change requires continuous learning, dialogue, and community ownership. The day ended with a learning exposure in the Marang-Marang Women’s Organization, an Asia Award-winning cultural livelihood group, where participants learned about the community’s best practices on cooperation, sustainable tourism, and women-led leadership. On the second day, participants traveled to Maluso for a cultural and leadership exchange with the Sama Bajau community, facilitated by the Claret Sama Foundation. The youth were introduced to locally made handicrafts, the “Yellow School of Hope,” and stories of resilience amid discrimination and displacement. Community leaders shared their struggles, emphasizing safety concerns, lack of infrastructure, and continuing issues of marginalization. The day concluded with a deepening reflection session led by Nagdilaab Foundation President Deddette Suacito, where the youth discussed ownership, co-ownership, equity, and their roles as emerging leaders. They identified challenges such as lack of support from barangay officials, school pressures, discrimination, and coordination issues, but reaffirmed their commitment to “walk the talk” as IP youth leaders.