26 Bangsamoro Emerging Women Leaders join the Bangsamoro Women Leadership Training

The Ateneo School of Government, through its Executive Education Program and Westminster Foundation for Democracy, conducted the Bangsamoro Women Leadership Training with 26 cohorts onboard.

The program used a hybrid learning format consisting of three components: online learning resources, online learning assessment, and live interaction with resource persons. The training was divided into two legs of face-to-face activities:  the first leg was held from March 1 to March 3, 2022, in Cotabato City participated by cohort from Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Cotabato City, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat; the second leg was conducted in Zamboanga City from March 16 to March 18, 2022 participated by cohort from Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi provinces.

During the opening program, Dean Ronald U. Mendoza of the Ateneo School of Government and Ms. Naomi Barnard, the Senior Program Manager of Southeast and East Asia of Westminster Foundation for Democracy gave their welcoming messages.  Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie, Deputy Majority Floor Leader, and Atty. Laisa Alamia, Minority Floor Leader of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority also gave their keynote speeches. Below are the highlights of their keynote speeches:

The emerging women leaders have undergone five (5) modules. Ms. Amina Rasul-Bernardo, the President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, led Module 1: A Career in Politics; Module 2: Thriving in Political Parties; and Module 3: Authentic Leadership. The remaining two (2) modules which are Module 4: Building Social and Political Capital and Module 5: Fundraising and Getting the Support You Need were handled by Ms. Georgina Hernandez-Yang, the Executive Director of Galing Pook Foundation. 

The training program aims to support the emerging women leaders in the Bangsamoro region with the practical skills and tools necessary to become political leaders and genuine public servants. It also provides an avenue for BARMM emerging women leaders to form a network, an opportunity for everyone to converse on women issues, and a platform to collaborate and co-organize action plans that will increase women’s engagement in politics and governance.