MANILA, Philippines – The solutions to some of the nation’s problems can be conceived by the youth, Vice President Leni Robredo said Monday as her office cited the 12 best pro-peace projects from Mindanao during the Angat Buhay Youth Peace Summit.

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“Kahit bata pa sila meron na silang maiko-contribute sa paghanap ng solutions to finding peace, nakita natin ‘yan sa klase ng mga projects na pinitch nila, kasi ito ‘yong mga proyekto na siguro ‘yong mga Pilipinong nasa edad ko na, hindi maiisip,” she said after the program in Quezon City.

(Even if they are young, they can contribute to finding solutions to attaining peace, we see that in the kind of projects they pitched, because these are projects that Filipinos of my age cannot even think about.)

“Ito kasi ‘yong paniniwala namin, na kahit anong problema, kahit anong gustong gawin, mas mahahanap ‘yong mga solusyon na mas maganda at mas mabuti kapag mas inclusive at mas participative ‘yong proseso,” she added.

(This is our belief, that any problem, or anything we want to achieve, it would be easier and better to find solutions if the process is more integrated, inclusive, and participative.)

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“Ito kasing sa amin parang naging sanctuary nila, na nararamdaman nila na marami pala kami, na pareho ‘yong aspirations, at pwede kaming magtulong-tulungan,” Robredo explained.

(Our program has become some sort of a sanctuary for them, where they would feel that they are not alone, we have similar aspirations, and we can help each other in achieving that.)

Robredo said that this is the fifth edition of the Angat Buhay Youth Summit.

Angat Buhay is one of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) anti-poverty and good governance programs.

To be able to carry out its mission, the OVP partners with private groups and organizations due to a lack of funding.

The youth and peace summit is supported by the J. Amado Araneta Foundation, Teach Peace, Build Peace Movement, the Office on Bangsamoro Youth Affairs, and the United Voices for Peace Network.