May 8, 2009

 

 

25 COMPLETE U.S.-SUPPORTED PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MUSLIM LEADERS

 

Twenty-five participants from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict-affected areas in Mindanao celebrated their completion today of the U.S.-supported Congressional Internship Program for Young Muslim Leaders (CIPYML).

 The 25 interns are part of the eighth cycle of this program and are from the Lanao provinces; the Sulu archipelago provinces of Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi; Sarangani province; and the cities of Marawi, Zamboanga and General Santos.  To date, 168 young people from Mindanao have completed the internship program.

The CIPYML Program is aimed at enhancing the commitment of young people in Mindanao to democratic values and institutions by increasing their knowledge on policy formulation and legislation development.  The four-month internship program also provides congressmen and congressional staff increased opportunity to interact with articulate representatives of Mindanao’s Muslim community.

The program includes a three-week introductory governance course at the Mindanao State University (MSU) Marawi campus and a thirteen-week internship at the House of Representatives, during which interns work with congressional committees and the staffs of individual representatives, in the areas of policy formulation, research, and preparation for legislative process. 

The internship at Congress is supplemented by a 12-day course in “Public Policy Development and Advocacy” at the Center for Professional and Executive Development of the University of the Philippines’ National College of Public Administration and Governance.

CIPYML is a project of the United States Agency for International Development managed by the Growth with Equity in Mindanao Program, and implemented in partnership with the House of Representatives and MSU. 

The recruitment of the 9th group of CIPYML interns will begin in May 2009. 

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