Thousand kids join Kite for Peace in ARMM as part of Mindanao Week of Peace kick off
November 25, 2014
By Ferdinandh Cabrera
Cotabato City--- Thousands of school children, teachers,
government employees and security forces have joined the simultaneous “Kite
Flying” that aimed to amplify a united stand against violence and armed
conflict in ARMM.
Led by the Department of Education (DepED)-ARMM, in
partnership with the Coordinating and Development Office of the Bangsamoro
Youth Affairs (CDO-BYA), the activity advocates children’s rights and as part
of the 25th founding anniversary of the ARMM.
Anwar Upahm, head of ARMM’s Bangsamoro youth affair said
amid the recent violence of bombings and hatred that inflict harms to children
and youth, its high time for everyone to develop a culture of peace among
Mindanaons.
“We are just hoping that like kite we saw flying, peace
and harmony in this region will continue to take off and be stable so that everyone can
fully attain the gains of peace”, Upahm said.
Apart from the open spaces in Bangsamoro Complex in
Cotabato City where hundreds of children showcased their home made kites , the activity was done simultaneously also in Mindanao State University oval in Marawi
City, Lanao del Sur; DepED oval in
Tawi-tawi; Capitol grounds in Sulu; Lamitan National High School ground in
Basilan; and MSU-Dalican in Maguindanao .
Organizers has aimed to break the present Guiness World
Record holder, Gaza, Palestine, with 13,000 kids in 2011.
“I felt great, my home made kite made it to the sky with
other colorful kites”, said Sadan Parasa, a grade 3 pupil from Broce Elementary
School in Cotabato City.
Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman said the activity is part of present ARMM’s
expression on the celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace, and a part also of ARMM’s
silver jubilee celebration.
ARMM line agencies, local government officials, peace
stakeholders, civil society organizations, youth groups, and representatives
from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have expressed their support and
participation in the event.
The activity is also being supported by the Young Moro
Professionals Network (YMPN), Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Partylist, and the Coalition
of Organization for Reform and Empowerment (CORE-ARMM).# END
End.