CBCS-GCERF’S PROTECT PEACE PROJECT TEAM UNDERTAKES PSYCHOSOCIAL TRAINING BY DILG PCVE-PMO

Twenty (20) staff under the Promoting Resilient and Organized Citizenry towards Empowerment and Community Transformation for Peace in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) or PROTECT Peace in the BARMM Project, a project agreement between the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), Inc. and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) were able to undertake a two-day psychosocial training conducted by the Department of Interior Local Governance (DILG) under the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Program Management Office (PCVE-PMO), last June 15-16, 2023 at L’ Meridian Suites, Zamboanga City.

With the objective of equipping the local implementers with the necessary knowledge, skills, and approaches to effectively address the psychosocial needs of the clients and communities affected by armed conflict, the participants underwent a series of lectures and workshops on Understanding the Foundation of One’s Self, Coping Mechanisms and Self-care.

“We are the vessel of change so let us not forget to take care of ourselves and remember that self-care is important” – Dr. Jowima Ang-Reyes, RSW, Associate Professor V from the College of Social Work and Community Development of the University of the Philippines – Diliman, the invited Resource Speaker reminded the participants after all the sharing and sessions.

Halima Alfonso, one of the participants expressed her gratitude to the DILG and GCERF for organizingsuch training. “We couldn’t thank you enough for providing us this training. We, frontliners truly need more sessions like this and we hope that this would not be the last.” – said Alfonso as she acknowledged the efforts of the organizers.

The psychosocial training is one of the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Collaboration Activity of the DILG PCVE-PMO in partnership with GCERF on its commitment to strengthen the effective implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) on PCVE, NAP Community-Based Restoration and Reconciliation (CBRR), and National Task Force on the Disbandment of Private Armed Groups (NTF-DPAGs).