Tribal youth, nagsanay para maging Children’s Games volunteers

DAVAO CITY – May kabuuang 35 volunteers mula sa komunidad ng Muslim, Lumad at Christian ang sumailalim sa pagsasanay upang mapataas ang kaalaman bilang ‘volunteers’ sa gaganaping Sports for Peace Children’s Games nitong weekend sa Mergrande Ocean Resort sa Toril.

Sinabi ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) consultant Sergio Opeña, overall in-charge ng Children’s Games, na ang mga Tribal youth ay masigasig sa kanilang gawain at puno ng determinasyon na maging isang lider ng komunidad sa hinaharap.

Ang Children’s Game ang sentro ng gerassroots sports program ng PSC batay sa panawagan ng Pangulong Duterte na ibahagi ang sports development sa kanayunan at mga lalawigan na dumaranas ng kaguluhang pulitikal.

Ginanap ang leadership training nitong Agosto 11-13 sa Sacred Heart Spirituality Center sa Barangay Catalunan Grande, kung saan sumailalim ang mga kalahok sa pagsasanay sa aspeto ng team building, leadership, basic child psychology, sports as a vehicle for peace at vision ng PSC.

Nagmula ang mga kalahok sa Barangay Pañalum, Barangay Sirawan at Barangay Sasa,habang ang mga Muslim at Maranao volunteers ay mula sa Mini Forest sa Boulevard. Nakiisa rin ang mga simbahan ng St. Jude Thaddeus Parish, San Pedro Parish at Fatima Parish.

“The Ate and Kuya concept will be replicated all over the country. They will become Volunteers for Sports. Every 10 children in the Games will have an Ate or a Kuya who will lead them during the twoday inter-faith children’s games for peace,” pahayag ni Opena.

May kabuuang 350 Muslim, Lumad at Christian children na may edad 12-pababa ang makikiisa sa Children’s Game na kinilala ng UNESCO.

“The Children’s Games and sports for peace is aligned with what Unesco promotes,” sambit ni UNESCO consultant Caroline Baxter.

“We are excited about the journey of Children’s Games. It’s not easy but we are excited the Philippine government has this program and it just so happened that we have an ongoing crisis in Marawi City. We hope the Children’s Games will bridge the gap between Muslims and Christians,” pahayag naman ni PSC Chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez.