𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉: 𝑨 𝑫𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒄 𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒁𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒏...

𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉: 𝑨 𝑫𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒄 𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒁𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒚 On September 13, 2025, the Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance, Inc. (ZABIDA), Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ), and ASMAE Philippines hosted the Building Youth Leadership Implementation of Youth Civic Engagement Action Response. The event, held in two barangays in Zamboanga City—Kasanyangan and Rio Hondo—focused on enhancing youth leadership and promoting civic engagement among Indigenous People (IP) communities. The program’s main goal was to equip Indigenous youth with the tools to actively participate in their communities, become informed leaders, and engage meaningfully in social issues, particularly around topics of health, education, and human rights. It also aims to provide a platform for young people to reflect on their roles in creating change, both in their own lives and for their communities. 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙮 𝙆𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙣 The day began in Barangay Kasanyangan, where Lena Vie Astillero, a midwife from the Barangay Health Center, facilitated a session on teenage pregnancy. The talk covered the health, social, and emotional impacts of early pregnancies, which often disrupt young women’s lives and educational journeys. Astillero also provided prevention methods and highlighted the importance of sexual reproductive health education in empowering young people to make informed decisions. By addressing this sensitive topic openly, the session aimed to reduce the stigma surrounding teenage pregnancy and promote healthier communities. Lena emphasized that prevention starts with knowledge and open communication, encouraging young people to take charge of their health and well-being. 𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢 (𝘼𝙇𝙎) 𝙞𝙣 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙮 𝙍𝙞𝙤 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙤 In the afternoon, the program shifted focus to education in Barangay Rio Hondo, where Nurisa Arasid, an Alternative Learning System (ALS) teacher, led a session on the importance of alternative education for out-of-school youth. ALS provides flexible, accessible learning opportunities for young people who face challenges attending traditional schools due to social or financial barriers. For many Indigenous youth, ALS is an important program that allows them to continue their education and develop skills that can help them improve their lives. Arasid’s talk emphasized how ALS offers a second chance for education, enabling students to learn at their own pace while gaining the skills necessary to succeed in the workforce or further education. Participants were encouraged to reflect on how ALS could benefit them personally and how it could open doors to better opportunities. The session was interactive, with attendees asking questions and sharing their educational aspirations. It also highlighted how education is a powerful tool for change, offering a pathway to empowerment and community development. By focusing on health, education, and civic engagement, the event hopes to bridge gaps in knowledge and provide a platform for Indigenous youth to come together, learn from each other, and be empowered to create change.