Social injustice, religious prejudice and dire poverty create violent children and a growing number of armed conflict that affects millions of children. In the Philippines, children as young as 10 years old are recruited into violent drug gangs, rebel armies and religious extremist groups. This program uses arts such as music and dance as lively alternatives for 200 Christian and Muslim youth in elementary and high schools to resist the lure of violent crime and extremism.
In the Philippine, children as young as 5th and 6th grade are trained to kill by radical groups as "child soldiers." A school-age population of some 65 million children and youths are largely impoverished and lack fun activities. Music, dance and sports programs have proven essential to keeping kids away from violence. In Sulu Province, with a Muslim majority and in the Christian district of Cuartero, in Visayas region, teachers and parents use sports and arts to protect their children.
This program will assist 200 children in two elementary schools in communities known for child violence in Mindanao and Visayas in the Philippines. Sports and arts programs organized through schools will provide alternative activities for at-risk children. Christian and Muslim educators will use social media to share their activities. In addition, we will step up education opportunities, booksand classroom supplies. We will provide music, art and sports equipment to empower these programs.
The main impact of this program is to prevent children in Christian and Muslim areas of the Philippines from being recruited into violent drug and guerilla groups. Christian and Muslim teachers will learn from each other's best practices. Girls will become more respected by boys who will be diverted from extremist influences. Positive interaction and equal treatment between various cultural groups will overcome hatred and motivate mutual cooperation. The long-term impact is to build peace.
