PeaceBuilders School of Leadership, the multidisciplinary mentorship program of PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI), has been successful in their leadership training initiatives. Many individuals who have gone through this program have witnessed positive transformations in their lives and have become influential peacebuilders in their communities. In light of this success, the Board of Trustees (BOT) of PBCI has decided to institutionalize the said leadership mentoring school by offering a Certificate Program on Inclusive Development (IncluDev). IncluDev aims to equip individuals and organizations with the necessary knowledge and skills to engage effectively in transformative social change.
As the former Executive Director of the Alliance of Christian Development Agencies (ACDA), I have been involved in various peacebuilding initiatives. Through my experiences, I have recognized the need for a comprehensive leadership training program that focuses on inclusive development. These notes outline the establishment of a Certificate Program on Inclusive Development called IncluDev, which aims to equip individuals and organizations with the necessary knowledge and skills to engage effectively in transformative social change.
Background
PeaceBuilders School of Leadership, the multidisciplinary mentorship program of PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI), has been successful in their leadership training initiatives. Many individuals who have gone through this program have witnessed positive transformations in their lives and have become influential peacebuilders in their communities. In light of this success, the Board of Trustees (BOT) of PBCI has decided to institutionalize the said leadership mentoring school by offering a Certificate Program on Inclusive Development (IncluDev).
Overview of Certificate Program
The Certificate Program on Inclusive Development will span a period of 10 months and will consist of three major tracks:
- PeaceBuilding,
- Transformational Leadership, and
- Social Entrepreneurship.
Each track will be integrated into a seamless and unified learning experience, with monthly modules covering different aspects of inclusive development. Each module will include three days of classroom teaching (8 hours per day) and one day of fieldwork (8 to 16 hours), amounting to a total of four days per module.
Three Approaches to Program Delivery
To maximize accessibility, the program will be offered through three different approaches:
- Out-sourced: Organizations or communities interested in specific modules or the entire certificate program can be arranged to have the training delivered exclusively to their members. In this approach, the organization or community will be responsible for covering 100% of the costs and logistics.
- Partnership: IncluDev will collaborate with interested communities or organizations to jointly offer the modules or certificate program. The costs and logistics will be shared between Includev and the partnering entity, enabling broader participation.
- In-house: IncluDev will independently deliver all the modules and certificate programs. Student registration fees, sponsorships, scholarships, and other funding mechanisms will be established by Includev to ensure the sustainability of the school.
Scholarship Fund for Community Partners
To further align IncluDev with the inclusive development thrust of PBCI, a scholarship fund will be established. This fund will support three deserving youth, preferably recent Senior High School graduates, who will form a team and go through the certificate program. Each team member will be represented in one of the three tracks, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience. These youth participants will be nurtured to become future leaders, capable of sustaining and expanding inclusive development initiatives in their communities while fostering collaboration with other communities.
The Malipayon Peace Hub
The Malipayon Peace Hub will serve as the home of IncluDev, providing a conducive learning environment for the participants. It will also serve as a platform for field experiences, allowing learners to engage with the operations of the Coffee for Peace (CFP) and partner communities affiliated with PBCI. This practical engagement will complement the theoretical learning provided in the classroom setting, reinforcing the participants’ understanding and application of inclusive development principles.
The proposed Certificate Program on Inclusive Development (IncluDev), seeks to empower individuals and organizations to become transformational leaders and social entrepreneurs. By offering a comprehensive curriculum and flexible delivery approaches, we aim to make this program accessible to a wide range of participants. Through this initiative, we will cultivate a network of inclusive development practitioners who will work towards building peaceful and thriving communities.
