MULTICULTURAL CAMP “CELEBRATING HARMONY AMIDST DIVERSITIES”
Sponsored by: Integrated Resource Development for Tri-People (IRDT)
Peace Connect project
Harmony Village, Pitogo, Sinunuc, Zamboanga City
February 6-7, 2018
Different people have different views of things, likes or dislikes, agreements or disagreements. Multicultural communities is a controversial issue in the world especially in Mindanao. In multicultural diversities, communication and barriers to effective communication works alongside one another. Barriers of effective communication can be simple or complex from time to time. Sometimes, the differences in beliefs, faiths, and language may lead society, especially the youths, to misunderstandings and conflicts. However, the celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018 in Zamboanga City with the theme: Celebrating the Transforming powers of the Love of God and the Love of Neighbor for the Common Good” give the Integrated Resource Development for Tri-People (IRDT) the opportunity to conduct a significant initiative for the young generation to be in harmony with other cultures and religions in the 2 days Camp at Harmony Village, Pitogo, Sinunuc, Zamboanga City.
United with nature, the campers of this event held their activity at the camp site located at Harmony Village. The name of the place itself gives us many definitions – in harmony with God, nature, the self and neighbors. It is a seamless place to hold the significant activity as the camp’s goal is to “Celebrate Harmony amidst Diversities”.
The Camp started with the usual prayer and orientation of getting-to-know-you activity. A great impact of sharing was felt as the group made their plan of action on what they could do to share the good message of a Multicultural camp to their community. At the end of the activity, the participants then advocated the sense of living in harmony amidst diversities and the love for the common good
They shared and presented personal experiences, learned lessons of life, and valued the significance of being different. The camp provided the youth with the platform to conduct their personal reflections on cultures other than their own. This activity created an avenue for the young people of different cultures and religions to come together and appreciate the richness of diversities.
Celebrating World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018 was very significant because we could reach people’s hearts with many initiatives. Understanding multicultural diversity brought together a melting pot of different cultures, beliefs, and religions that turned the activity into somewhat of a little mixed family. As young as they are, they must embrace the reality of multicultural diversities and to accept that living in harmony amidst diversities is possible as long as we have respect, harmony and we have God as the center of our lives.
The Persons Deprived of Liberty (PsDL) of San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm became part of the World Interfaith Harmony Week Celebration through the Poster Making Activity which happened last February 05, 2018. The main objective of this was to discover potentials and enhance the inmates’ skills and visual creativity and color harmony.
The time allotted for the activity had lapsed. The finalists were required to say something on the poster that each one had made, as the judges were listening attentively. The announcement of the winners followed. Of the ten finalists, seven received tokens of participation as consolation prizes while three of the finalists emerged as the first, second and third winners respectively. Winners received prizes for their participation. The participants took their lunch together as one family. 
Another activity that gives highlight of the weeklong celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week was the sharing of Ashura (Noah’s Pudding) held at Filipino Turkish Tolerance International School last February 03, 2018. This activity aimed to unite people of different faiths, traditions and diverse culture for harmony and peace.
Filipinos has its local version of Noah’s Pudding. For the Christian it is called “ Guinataan” while for Muslims, they called it “ Sindul” majority composed of root crops. Each one partook the food for unity. A game of self – expression was organized and participated by all. Everyone was led to view the mural painting prepared by some students. After a short description of the painting, everyone was invited to leave a mark of their palm using the paint provided. Joyfully each one palm leaves a mark on the wall using their palm. A group picture taking followed raising their palm with paint as a sign of oneness for harmony and peace. The activity ended at 4:00 in the afternoon.
In connection to the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week the Mindanao Breast Cancer Support and Empowerment Association joins the event by initiating a Forum on Early Detection and Prevention of Breast Cancer on February 3, 2018. As the news reported by the Manila Times in February 9, 2017 says that in 2016, the Philippines topped 197 countries with the most number of cases of breast cancer, data released by Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society have shown. It is also one of the countries worldwide with the highest prevalence rates of cancer.
Thus a big thanks to the group of women (survivors of breast cancer) for conducting this kind of forum to help the grassroots mothers to have a knowledge and skills on how to have a self- breast examination, be aware of the signs and symptoms and how to live a healthy lifestyle. Having a regular breast examination is the single best way to detect the disease at the earliest possible stage. At the end the organization advised the mothers to be strong, courageous and hopeful in life.