The island of Mindanao in the Philippines has been a hotspot of conflicts between Christian migrants, the Moro people, and Indigenous communities for decades. These conflicts have left deep scars, causing significant division and distrust. The goal of the Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) III project, which we carried out together with the Human Security Collective and local partners, was to bring about change. The project, which ran from 2020 to 2023, focused on breaking down prejudices and building bridges between these groups.

The problem

On Mindanao, people live daily with the consequences of decades-long conflicts and the deep-rooted mistrust that has arisen from them. Indigenous communities face discrimination and often see their land taken away, while the Muslim population (Moro) is frequently stigmatized and excluded. Violence is a recurring problem, with families losing loved ones to random attacks and retaliations. Children grow up in an atmosphere of fear, where they are bullied at school because of their ethnicity and religion. Many feel compelled to live in segregated communities, with fear of the other growing ever stronger and peaceful coexistence becoming increasingly difficult. Young people in these communities were particularly vulnerable to radicalization, fueled by a lack of dialogue and understanding.

Carmelito, a 60-year-old man from the Indigenous Teduray community, illustrates this problem. “As a Teduray, I was discriminated against daily,” Carmelito says. “People said we were smelly and stupid. It made me angry and bitter, and I began to believe that my religion was the only right one.”

Our approach

To break this negative cycle, FoRB III focused on promoting interfaith cooperation and building mutual understanding. We did this, for example, by organizing ‘Culture of Peace’ workshops, where local authorities, religious leaders, and community leaders were trained in conflict mediation and nonviolent communication. The goal was to reduce prejudices and build trust between different groups.

Carmelito was initially skeptical but decided to participate in the workshops. “During the seminars, I realized how harmful my own prejudices were,” Carmelito says. “I began to see that my negative thoughts contributed to the conflicts in my community.” His participation led to a personal transformation, and he became an active advocate for religious tolerance. “I want this new way of thinking to spread, even now that the project is over. We need to respect each other and work together.”

Noraisa Salik, a 53-year-old Moro, grew up in a family that hated Christians because of violent conflicts in the past. “My father held a grudge for years, but thanks to meeting a Christian leader, he began to process his hatred,” Noraisa says. Inspired by her father, Noraisa is committed to helping others take the same steps. Under her leadership, IMAN, an organization supported by Mensen met een Missie, has created safe spaces where members of different communities can engage in dialogue. “We try to overcome fear and prejudice by bringing people out of their bubble and into a safe environment,” says Noraisa.

The impact

FoRB III has had a significant impact on Mindanao. The approach of dialogue and cooperation has allowed old wounds to begin to heal slowly. Thanks to the efforts of leaders like Carmelito and Noraisa, the first steps have been taken towards a peaceful society where respect and understanding are central.

“I used to think it was impossible to live in peace with other groups,” says Carmelito, “but now I know it can be done as long as we are willing to listen to each other and learn from each other.” Noraisa agrees: “The road to peace is long and difficult, but I believe that with patience and perseverance, we can bring our communities closer together.”

The experiences of Carmelito and Noraisa are just a few examples of the many lives changed by the FoRB III project. Although the project has now been completed, the networks and lessons learned continue to contribute to a sustainable future for Mindanao, where peaceful coexistence is no longer a dream but a reality that is being built step by step.