SOME 600 Christian and Muslim youth representing various schools, communities, youth groups and organizations gathered in an annual assembly of young people to celebrate God’s gift of creation.
The annual youth gathering dubbed Harmony Youth Day was held on December 19, 2009 at the Hadji Nuño and Fr. Di Guardo Auditorium, Harmony Village, at Pitogo, Sinunuc, Zamboanga City.
Themed “Youth In journey: Explore, Rediscover and Experience God’s Gift of Creation”, the assembly was organized by Silpeace youth program of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement.
Youth participants who came from Zamboanga City and as far as Jolo, Sulu showed their gratitude to God for his gift of creation in the form of songs, dances and theatrical presentations.
The youth day began with a motorcade from the city center to the assembly site. SilPeace Performing Arts opened the whole day affair with a playlet on loving and nurturing God’s creation.
Prior to the assembly, a poster making contest was organized that was joined by the different schools, colleges and communities in the city. The creative activity allowed the participants to express their hopes and aspirations for dialogue and peace. Winners were awarded during the event and their works displayed in the site.
The recently concluded Harmony Youth Day served as the final activity in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Movement and the ten years existence of Silpeace in sharing the spirituality of dialogue. Silpeace was formally launched in 1999.
Young people who have participated in various activities spearheaded by Silpeace program such as youth camps, culture of dialogue orientation seminars, symposia, regular formations and other activities conducted throughout the year are gathered annually for the Harmony Youth Day.
Former youth coordinators Ahmad Alawaddin and Norbert Solina each encouraged the youth to cherish and share the values they have learned from the movement to other members of their respective communities.
Likewise, link moderators and mentors from different schools and communities gave their words of encouragement and their unending support to the youth program.
The participating schools, communities and youth groups include AGAPE Human Development Foundation, Ateneo de Zamboanga University-High School Dept., Ayala National High School, Badjao Community, Baluno National High School, Cawit Community, Campo Islam Community, HMIJ Philippine Islamic Coolege, Inc., Kalinaw Youth, La Paz Community, Pilar College-High School Dept., Regional Science High School, SilPeace-Jolo, SilPeace-Zamboanga, Sinunuc Community, Sinunuc National High School, Southcom National High School, Sta. Catalina Community, Sta. Cruz Island Community, Universidad de Zamboanga, Western Mindanao State University-Integrated Laboratory High School, Zamboanga City High School-Main, Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology-College and High School and Zone IV Youth.
The Silsilah Youth Program aims to promote the Culture of Dialogue, Path to Peace among the youth - Muslims, Christians and other living faiths - to sustain peaceful and harmonious relationships among them even as they belong to diverse religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds.
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