Sectoral Focus
A. COMMUNITIES
GRASSROOTS SOLIDARITY PROGRAMS
This program was born out of a spontaneous response to help the fire victims in Lower Calarian, a predominantly Muslim poor area. Since then, the movement has given preferential option to poor communities where Muslims and Christians live together and in solidarity with the disadvantaged through this program. It gives witness to its vision-mission promoting the culture of dialogue by its presence and various activities. It still gives emergency and relief assistance to poor areas struck by disasters and natural calamities.
1) SILSILAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
This is a school in St. Cruz island, where there is a Muslim community. Silsilah offer formation and community services. The formal elementary education school of Silsilah in the island is recognized by the Department of Education. This was established due to the absence of any public school to provide elementary school to the many children in this fishing island which can be reached by a 30 minute boat ride from the Zamboanga City main land.
2) SILSILAH SOLIDARITY SCHOOLS
These kindergarten and nursery schools are located in Pitogo, Lower Calarian, Sta. Catalina and Paniran Extension . In Pitogo which is a predominantly Muslim area, a madrasah was recently built upon the request of the community. The Movement is convinced that this is an effective system to form the young boys and girls to their Islamic faith. These schools are supplemented with feeding, health and sanitation, formation of women, children and families and other social services. The social arm of the Emmaus Dialogue Community, the Padayon Center takes care of the schools in Sta. Catalina and Paniran communities.
B. YOUTH
YOUTH PROGRAM
The promotion of dialogue and peace among the youth is one of the priorities of Silsilah. In pursuit of this, initiatives and activities are organized to achieve the following objectives: * to live a positive experience of friendship and relationship where differences of cultures and religions become a way of rediscovering the mysterious plan of the love of God who is in dialogue with each one and with creation. * to promote the spirit of the universal family guided by God and to respect the importance of relating with each other as brothers and sisters. * to share together an experience of dialogue as a way of life and as a sustainable way to peace.
1) SILSILAH STUDENTS' CENTER
This is a venue in promoting the objectives of the youth program in the school setting. The first one opened is in the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) the biggest Muslim-Christian school in Zamboanga City and the region.
2) YOUTH CAMPS
Every summer the program runs a youth camp for in and out of school youth; always focused on the promotion of the culture of dialogue path to peace.
3) SILPEACE
Regular formation and activities for youth in school and community based run by an organized youth council being trained for self governance.
4) ORIENTATION TO CULTURE OF DIALOGUE PATH TO PEACE
A weekend reflection on the spirituality of dialogue leading to personal and social transformation is, given regularly to 3rd and 4th year college students of selected colleges and universities Zamboanga City. A Silsilah Youth Team also conducts these reflection sessions to nearby schools of Jolo, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi in response to requests.
C. LEADERS
INTERFAITH COUNCIL OF LEADERS (IFCL)-This initiative has for its general goal the harnessing of Muslim and Christian leadership from different sectors in the community for the promotion of dialogue and peace, with the following objectives:
>To provide a venue for Muslim, Christian and other faiths leaders to reflect, express and share their views on certain issues that affect inter-faith relationships.
>To identify relevant social issues and problems, generate ideas and possible solutions, and contribute to their implementation for the common good.
>To become dialogue and peace movers who are able to influence the community through their life and action.
1. INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE FOR YOUNG GRADUATES
Every summer, the IFCL Committee on Education selects some Muslim and Christian honor students graduating from selected elementary schools in the city and invites them to a special seminar on inter-faith dialogue. This is an effort to expose our young incoming high school students to a life of dialogue by faith, even young as they are. The objectives of the seminar are: >To broaden the young graduates mind and heart to the richness and goodness of each other faith tradition and practices thus becoming future instruments of dialogue and peace in their families and communities.
>To provide exposure experience to some religious places in the city.
> To experience the healing process of one woundedness
>To develop the virtue of cooperation and working together in the spirit of friendship
>To develop the virtue of appreciation and respect of each others diverse religion and practices
2. GATHERING FOR CHRISTIAN CATECHISTS AND MADARIS GURUS
The IFCL Education Committee conducts gatherings of Muslim Madaris Gurus and Christian Catechists as religious educators The objective of the gathering is to establish friendship among them in the spirit of dialogue and peace and be able to share the same in teaching the students.
3. SYMPOSIA AND FORA - The IFCL sponsors gatherings on relevant issues on dialogue and peace and have published proceedings of such conferences for public circulation.
4. PUBLICATION IFCL has also published and made available to the general public articles and materials that are relevant for Muslim- Christian relationships, the latest being the Open Letter and Call from 138 Muslim Religious Leaders to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian religious leaders of the world entitled "A Common Word Between Us and You" dated October 13, 2007.
5. TULAY 5 INITIATIVE The IFCL has also responded to some emergency situations like fire and natural calamities by raising funds. This project hopes to raise funds from Muslim and Christian local contribution for the five (5) initiatives or bridges of friendship in preparation for the 25th Anniversary of the Movement in May 9, 2009.
1. Help build a simple Muslim prayer house in Harmony Village.
2. Help build a simple Christian prayer house in Harmony Village.
3. Assist poor Muslim and Christian orphans who have lost one or both parents in situations of violence.
4. Help repair or assist in building houses for poor Muslim families.
5. Help repair or assist in building houses for poor Christian families.