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DEFEND PANTARON MOUNTAIN RANGE AND PULANGI RIVER

The Pantaron Mountain Range is a critical and endangered biodiversity site which serves as a major ecological and geographical backbone of Mindanao. Because of its unparalleled natural riches, the Pantaron Mountain Range continues to be coveted by large-scale mining companies looking for rich mineral deposits, agri-business plantations looking for fertile soil and power firms that seek to dam portions of Pantaron for hydro-electric energy. Through our services, we empower Lumad women and girls at the forefront of the struggle to #SavePantaron.

sANA’SKWELA: Support Education for Children of Environmental and Human Rights Defenders

To stand in solidarity with our human rights and environmental defenders is to show up for not only them as individuals, but also show up for their loved ones. It is clear from the example of Lumad schools that a holistic approach to education has positive impact on both the youth and on their communities – combining academia with health (physical and mental). By empowering the youth of Mindanao, we will ensure that next generations are equipped to also serve as environmental and human rights defenders in the paths they pursue.

OBJECTIVES: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #4 is to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” This campaign reaches toward this goal through the following efforts:

1.    Educate about how access to education in the Philippines, and particularly in Mindanao, is being impacted by economic crisis and political oppression.

2.    Fundraise for the schooling needs of 50 youth in Mindanao including

a.    School supplies

b.    Book fees

c.     Uniforms

d.    Additional school fees

e.    Transportation

3.    Fundraise for the physical and mental health needs of the same 50 youth including (subject to change based on urgent or emerging need)

a.    Vaccinations

b.    Basic medicine and vitamins

c.     Face masks and hand sanitizer

d.    Individual and group counseling

4.    Empower 50 youth and enrich their DepEd education through extra-curricular arts and writing workshops, educational discussions, film-viewings, and community integrations

luwas nu ubpan “safe refuge” Defend women and lgbtq+ human rights defenders in mindanao!

In our language, “Luwas nu ubpan” means “a safe place or refuge” which we actively fight to protect for future generations, and which we hope to provide for all our human rights defenders under threat.

According to a September 2022 report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the major human rights problems in the Philippines include “harassment, threats, arrests, attacks, red-tagging against civil society actors” and noted that “access to justice for victims of human rights violations and abuses remained very limited.

In our indigenous cultures, the act of reciprocity is not only a value of ours, but an essential practice of our communal livelihood and survival - when a wild deer or boar is hunted by one, it is shared with all. In this tradition, we return the gesture of human rights defenders’ service, whether Lumad or not, by standing up for their rights. We are raising support for ten women and LGBTQ+ human rights defenders in Mindanao who are facing various threats.