As of the moment, I'm still dreaming. I did not expect what ICF could do to change my life. It opens the door for me to step up with multiple improvements to where I am today. ICF is not just an international non-government organization but a candle of light for every young Asian person. It offers many opportunities to everyone, especially those with a strong passion for change. It is different from other NGOs with which I am also affiliated. I consider ICF my family, my home, and a space where I belong. The ICF objectives are really interesting. It shows programs and activities focused on peace and other related issues. ICF also gives those passionate young people in Asia opportunities to look for a light of peace. I'm an active member and alumnus of ICF, and my heart is always for ICF. I am grateful for the people behind this organization. They are intelligent and amazing people. Although we are from different races, cultures, and faiths, we are united. As an active peace advocate attending local or community-based training, I was invited as a speaker to share something about how peace affects the lives of everyone, strengthening the peace process, so it is really nice that young people nowadays really like to hear and learn from me about those things that I also learn from ICF participants, speakers, organisers, and people around us. ICF really changed my life as a young person. I come from the marginalized sector, the Indigenous Peoples. Still, I had the chance to go to the international stage, meeting young Asian people with the same goals: to equip ourselves and help our spiritual, physical, and mental growth. ICF has helped me improve a big part of me at this young age, as a young professional, because of the things that I learned from ICF, especially those people who helped me develop my skills on how to become more consistent with the ideals I am fighting for. Our small group in the province of Cotabato, with the collaborative efforts of ICF alumnus, created an idea to establish the Young Muslim Christian IP Peace Advocates (YMICIPA), which ICF assists in organising and conducting programs in line with peace initiatives, especially in those areas that are affected by violence and war in the province of Cotabato, Philippines.
We started with small members and are now growing. We are hoping ICF is proud of us. ICF is our best partner for our upcoming programs and activities. I am sincerely grateful to Ma'am Muriel O. Montenegro, PhD, Baidz M. Saganding, RSW, and Annika Denkmann for being my best mentors. I also thank ICF's partners who help ICF continue to conduct programs. There are no words to define, and thank you is not enough to say. I hope ICF will continue with the programs it has started because people like me need your guidance for a better and more peaceful world. More power, ICF!