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AMINEXT Ambassadors Program
In
a time when voices matter more than ever, Central Mindanao Colleges (CMC)
stands as a beacon of empowered youth leadership, amplifying advocates who
transform lived experiences into action and lasting change.
In
alignment with the CMC Center for International Affairs and Linkages and the
Gender and Development Office, CMC proudly recognizes its student leaders who
champion gender equality and inclusive leadership through their participation
in the prestigious #AMINEXT
Ambassadors Program.
Selected
from 256 applicants across Mindanao, only 21 women and LGBTQIA+ leaders,
victim-survivors, and allies were chosen for this regional initiative organized
by Our Stories, Our Voices in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH – Ziviler Friedensdienst (Civil Peace
Service), and powered by KICTANet, University of the West Indies (UWI), the
European Union, German Cooperation, and GIZ.
Representing
Central Mindanao Colleges are Anjo Banaban, President of GENspace (Gender and
Development Organization), and Ariane Banais, Public Relations Officer of CMC
PRISM. As student leaders championing gender justice, they participated in the
program held on March 28–29, 2026, at the GIZ-CPS Office, Robinsons Cybergate
Delta, J.P. Laurel Avenue, Davao City. The initiative featured a two-day
in-person empowerment and community-building workshop, complemented by online
learning sessions using the ATINGI Digital Enquirer Kit on Gender-Based
Violence, and collaborative engagements with experts, advocates, and fellow
youth leaders.
The
program was enriched by insights from distinguished speakers and facilitators,
including Fatima de la Calle, Advisor on Human Rights and Gender of GIZ GmbH;
Harold Banggay, Executive Director of Our Stories, Our Voices; Jearvel Bonjoc,
Host and Facilitator from Our Stories, Our Voices; and Jhoanna Cayanan of Young
Feminists Collective Mindanao. Participants also learned from advocates and
champions such as Dr. Apple Ybañez of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders
Initiative, Rianne Calsa, Reyna ng Davao 2024 and Founder of Transpire, May
Olvino, First Female President of the Rotary Club of Davao, Angel Alicaba,
Patnubay ng Dabaw 2025 awardee, Habib D. Pagilogon, Associate Professor from
the University of Mindanao, and Sam Bernardo, Representative of Our Stories,
Our Voices, who shared powerful narratives and expertise on gender advocacy and
lived experiences.
Through
these experiences, they are equipped with practical tools to address the
social, cultural, and digital drivers of gender-based violence, enabling them
to co-create solutions rooted in their communities. Bringing their advocacy,
lived experiences, and commitment to empowering others, they continue to raise
awareness, inspire collective action, and drive sustainable change across
Mindanao.
Banais
emphasized the importance of youth engagement in advocacy, stating, “This
experience strengthened my voice as a young leader. It reminded me that our
stories matter and that we have the power to create safe, inclusive spaces in
our communities.”
This
initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,
particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 16
(Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), reinforcing the role of education
and youth leadership in building inclusive, safe, and equitable societies.
Central
Mindanao Colleges remains steadfast in cultivating student leaders who champion
meaningful change, reinforcing its commitment to holistic education grounded in
service, empowerment, and social responsibility.
Choose
Central Mindanao Colleges, where leadership is nurtured, voices are empowered,
and futures are shaped, where students become advocates, innovators, and
changemakers ready to lead with purpose and impact.
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