The Peace Hero Kids and Artists for Peace from Barimbingan Ditsaan, Ramain are Yaslani or “Nusqa,” Ryan, Abdul Qahar or “Bitoy,” Ismail or “Maki,” Janary or “Jana,” and Norjanah or “Jiya. Barimbingan is a locality in Lanao del Sur and situated nearby to the localities Pagalungan and Marawi. These children and their families witnessed the Marawi Siege, were exposed to the persisting family feuds or Rido in their community, and were subject to bullying in their schools.

Although the Marawi Siege happened six years ago, these children can still recall the simultaneous explosion of bombs and the exchange of gunfire. It negatively impacted both their way of life and their academic performance, being accustomed to the blasts as they occur every day for a month.

“It was so loud and scary at first, but for the past months of siege, it’s like we learn how those blasts became normal to us. We take it like a firework for us not to be shocked. But I can’t forget the struggle of my parents to buy our food to eat at that time. They told us that prices are high even in Ramain; people from Marawi buy foods in their place to survive the day.”

– Nusqa

Children are regarded as one of the most vulnerable groups in any armed conflict situation. Like youth, children can become passive victims or violent offenders because of misguidance. There are numerous stories of the Marawi Siege wherein children between the ages of 7 and 12 express interest in joining ISIS or the ISIS-inspired group because they were exposed to violence. Therefore, it is essential to offer these children the necessary intervention so they will realize their potential for nonviolence and peace. This backs up Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development theory that children are already searching for their sense of self and personal identity, purpose, and sense of belongingness between the ages of 12 and 19 through an intense exploration of personal values, beliefs, and goals.

Teach Peace Build Peace Movement (TPBPM) strongly believe in the importance of teaching peace in a child’s formative years, and by introducing the peace hero principle and the role of the arts in engaging their young minds in peacebuilding. These teachings can help develop their inner peace. Also, by managing negative emotions and their struggles, they will be equipped to build peaceful relationships amidst conflict in their environment.

Although I am just five years old, I can’t forget how our life was so difficult at that time; we had to secure our food for weeks because we were not sure where to get any more since people from other areas were buying here in Barimbingan.”

– Jannah

Before joining Peace Hero Kids Ambassadors Program and Artist for Peace Mentoring Sessions, the Barimbingan children regarded themselves as lacking awareness of the importance of peace in their lives. They mentioned the presence of bullying situations in their school wherein some initiated fights and some were victims. This is worrisome for most children as bullying can lead to Rido. As parents or family members of both ‘victims’ involve themselves in the bullying situations of their children, they tend to become hostile toward each other.

Since the neighborhood in Barimbingan is all in the same family line of relatives, some parents bypass the teachers and school administrator in reporting bullying incidents and will go directly to the family.

“Before, my parents took it personally and had a grudge against my classmate’s family because of a fight. In our minds, we know we can reconcile as kids, but when our parents discover that we are involved in a fight, it can lead to conflict between adults.”

– Bitoy

The lessons about conflict resolution and managing emotions helped Barimbingan children understand that bullying and the siege can be prevented. They learned that conflicts are not something you ignore or be indifferent to as they can do something to avoid violent conflict – like being a role model to fellow children, forming peaceful habits, and helping their household. Their learning gave them a sense of responsibility that paved the way for kids to build their self-esteem. Being responsible builds independence, which grows because of making choices, getting help with daily routines, and gaining control over their own life (Zoromski, 2017).

“Even until now, I got the habit of helping with chores in our homes, I made my mother smile, and she’s proud that she can see how peace sessions changed me.”

As these children learned about peace heroism, they now posit that bullying is a harmful act that mistreats others and promotes violence. They have realized that it must be stopped and resort to reconciliation should bullying happen again to them or other kids. As Peace Hero Kid Ambassadors, they have understood a peaceful and positive response to conflict.

In summary, the Barimbingan children were exposed to the violent conflict before the Marawi Siege. As these conflicts become part of their “normal” environment, there is a higher probability of becoming perpetrators in their adult life. Human interaction inevitably involves conflict, which we may experience at a young age, such as in the case of Barimbingan children. Disputes in a community or at a school involve disagreements, arguments, and physical violence; thus, children should start learning how to handle conflict. The earlier they can manage it, the sooner they can cultivate a strong self-awareness.

Instilling the peace hero principle and showing the role of art in building a Culture of Peace, our Barimbingan children understand the importance of non-violence to themselves and their community. Allowing children to have a sense of responsibility and introducing peaceful habits can redirect them to safe spaces and violent extremist ideologies.

Amer Kuday is a 13-year-old boy currently studying in Taguig, Metro Manila. He is Maguindanaoan and a proud and devoted Muslim. He was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but was raised in Southern Philippines. Amer’s father has told him countless stories of the war that he has lived through, stories of young children holding weapons because, for them, it was the only way to defend or protect themselves. Amer dreamed and he thought, “Paano ko kaya sila matutulungan?”

Amer’s father relocated them to Maharlika Village, Taguig, Metro Manila’s most prominent Muslim community, to protect his family and secure a better life.

Little did he know that his son would still be haunted by the war they so desperately ran away from.

Before, Amer was bullied by his classmates.

You are from Mindanao, right? You’re poor. What do you even know?

(Galing ka ng Mindanao di ba? Mahirap lang kayo. Ano ba’ng alam mo?)

Prejudice branded Amer as poor and needy despite being from a family of enough means and ignorant despite being able to attend school. It was a struggle for him, constantly dreading what his classmates would think, see, and say about him.

Amer thought he would never make friends; Lagi siyang nahihiya, kinakabahan at natatakot. The bullying extended to his religious beliefs. At the time of the siege of Marawi City in 2017, Amer experienced the worst of it all. His classmates made him feel like he was a bad person. “Galing ka ng Mindanao di ba? Marami kayong mga Muslim doon, di ba? Masasama ang mga tao doon. Nakakatakot sa lugar ninyo.”

You are from Mindanao, right? Most of you are Muslims, right? Your place is so scary; most of you are terrorists.

To cope, Amer kept repeating that he did not participate in the siege, that his family was not part of it, he was not part of it. He could not understand why his classmates and neighbors also thought of him and his family as a perpetrator. It was all over the news, his Facebook feed, and other social media pages. He kept wondering why people were doing this to them when all his family ever wanted was to be away from the war happening in their hometown.

Knowing what it feels like to be bullied and discriminated against and feeling helpless and hopeless. Amer became interested in the Peace Heroes Formation Program of the Teach Peace Build Peace Movement (TPBPM). This program was introduced at his school in October 2021. At first, Amer only wanted to be in a quiet space, away from his classmates who bullied him and far from those who looked down on him and his fellow Muslims. The isolation was what he thought peace to be.

But, the program gave him a different perspective that …

“Peace means being calm inside in the midst of conflict around us.“

Kapayapaan na nagmumula sa ating mga sarili kahit ang gulo-gulo na ng ating paligid.

Amer wanted to understand and witness this idea of peace.

Initially, Amer was scared that if he introduced himself as a Muslim during the sessions, he would be bullied again, but his friends, who were also part of the program, encouraged him; and he gradually became more comfortable. He learned mindfulness and meditation and made a habit out of it.

It has helped him deal with his emotions better. He says that he has learned how to stay calm instead of being angry when confronted with negativities. He is treated equally and fairly Within the group with his fellow peace heroes; they find no judgment in what he wears, eats, or prays. They listen to what he shares with them. He has understood bullying and discrimination – why people do it and how to deal with them. He has learned to practice peaceful communication and show respect, love, and compassion for others.

Amer says he has started to dream again and hopes that no other child goes through the bullying and discrimination he went through.

From not believing that peace can be achieved and that he can contribute to building peace in his school and community, Amer now believes that the presence of peace should be around us – in social media, in our homes, schools, district, and most importantly, from within. He firmly believes that every child deserves a peaceful community. His siblings and his friends deserve it; even those who bully and discriminate against him earn it.

He now believes that he has a voice even as a child and that he can build a culture of peace in his own ways and spheres of influence.

Amer is a student and a dreamer. Amer is a Peace Hero. He is part of our Community of Peace Heroes

and a Peace Hero Kids Network member.

The story of Amer shows us that children from a conflict-affected area migrating to Metro Manila still cannot escape from the wounds caused by war, recruitment by violent groups, nor be engaged with negative influences. His story and every story of our children and youth in the Peace Heroes Formation Program showed us the importance of looking into the personal and psychological dimension of protecting our children, preventing them from joining violent groups, and committing acts that can harm themselves. We do this alongside teaching them peaceful ways and non-violent solutions to the existing challenges in their communities.