The VSO Peace Building Program in the Philippines

Through Collaboration of Local and International Volunteers

 VSO Programme Goal

To contribute towards peace building

between and amongst Muslim and
Christian communities in Lanao del
Norte and Lanao del Sur
 Aims of VSO Peace
Building program

1. Fostering ‘culture of peace’

2. Economic resillience

3. Governance and Disaster Management

4. Peace Advocacy
 Geographic Focus:
Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur

Iligan City

Lanao del Norte

Marawi City

Lanao del Sur

Lake Lanao
 Context and Origins

VSO Philippines Country Strategy - views

National Volunteers, alongside with
International Volunteers, as a useful
‘tool’ in achieving programme area
objectives.

VSO Philippines exit strategy - points to the

sustainability objectives which NV
addresses
 The Formula: NV+IV

presumed to be more knowledgeable

about the local culture and language
new ways of
better able to adjust the capacity thinking
building process to local potentials
and needs
Broader
a constant in-country resource for planning
technical advice and assistance horizon
readily available for both emergency &
development needs Technological
cutting edge
can be harnessed for capability and
capacity building of disadvantaged solidarity
groups over the long term
 Developing a coherent
IV+NV approach

VSO partnerships were recasted to

include local volunteering initiatives.

VSOseeked new partnerships and

reinforced existing ones with locally-
based volunteer-sending NGOs, networks,
and other organizations
 Integration

• NV social skills + IV technical skills

• NV provides stop-gap response while awaiting
international volunteer deployment
• NV deployed in critical areas where security
issues and cross-cultural integration are a
paramount concern
• IV working along side young professional
volunteers (mentoring)
• IV as coach N-S and S-S volunteer exchanges
 Other Support Strategies
by VSO
• Mainstreaming National Volunteering to programs of
partners

• Support to establish a local muslim volunteer sending

organization

• Partnership activities such as exchange visits,

networking and learning mechanisms,
documentation, dialogues, south-south & south-north
study tours or exchanges

• Workshops, training, conferences towards enhancing

organization capacities
 Key Strengths
• Strong commitment to capacity building
and partnership development

• Effective complementation of technical

assistance, funding support, capacity
building support and networking carried
out within the context of strengthening
partnership (and international volunteers
hold-on to their placements till March 2010)

• Geographic accessibility as VSO chose to

establish PB program office in Lanao
 Challenges

With the closing of VSO program

office in March 2010–

How to carry forward and sustain the

achievements and gains of the
Mindanao Peace partners?
 New Beginnings
• Mindanao Peace partners build a self-
managed coalition
• VSO Bahaginan’s role on capacity
development
• Planned learning approach
• Focus on sustainability planning by each partner
• Growth on national volunteering
• Explore diaspora volunteering
• Lobbying to LGUs and relevant national
agencies on programs on peace building
support to communities
Salamat po!