ANGELA Maree Encomienda, a student from the Ateneo de Manila University, was one of 18 young leaders to graduate from the Future Bridging Leaders Program of the Asian Institute of Management last month.

Encomienda, an AB Sociology major, was chosen for her advocacy for indigenous peoples.

She is the founder and chairperson of “The Initiative PH,” a non-profit organization that synergizes young people’s development initiatives for communities experiencing poverty, exclusion, vulnerability, and insecurity.

“My Ateneo education, nurtured by my home department, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, has been instrumental to my leadership journey,” she said.

“In fact, my fellowship project is tied to my undergraduate thesis on the strategic identity and governance of indigenous youth,” she added.

The program for Encomienda’s cohort ran from June 2021 to March 2022.

“The cohort produced multiple outputs throughout the program, including a rapid area assessment, a theory of change, a logical framework, a progress report and a final pitch. The third term, held in Boracay from 19-26 March, culminated in a public recital,” the university said.

‘UWAY’

Ateneo said Encomienda presented their project ‘UWAY (Umuunlad at Nagwawaging Kabuhayan ng mga Katutubong Agta, Dumagat, at Remontado)’ together with her partner John Joseph Ilagan.

The project aims to organize an indigenous youth-led cooperative that champions the traditional livelihood of pag-uuway or rattan harvesting and handcrafting, which stopped at the height of the pandemic.

UWAY puts indigenous youth at the forefront, acknowledging that their generation is at risk of becoming the last to witness the dying tradition of handcrafting in their community.

The project also recognizes that indigenous youth have a growing desire to lead their community and a newfound capacity for organizing – a significant change in a culture primarily led by elders.

Co-created with IPs

Encomienda and Ilagan emphasized that their project was co-created with the indigenous peoples of General Nakar and Infanta, Quezon and supported by a robust coalition of organizations.

“Una, pag-uugnay ng komunidad sa mga funders, art organizations, ibang kooperatiba, IPOs, at pamahalaan. Pag nagawa ito, magkakaroon sila ng financial, product design, at cooperative management support para sa kanilang kabuhayang rattan,” she explained.

“Ikalawa, pagsasanay sa sustenableng kultibasyon ng rattan, pagdisenyo ng yaring-kamay, marketing, at pamamahala ng kooperatiba. Pag nagawa ito, tataas ang kanilang kaalaman at kumpiyansang makisangkot sa kanilang kabuhayang rattan,” she added.

“Huli, pagtatayo ng isang kooperatibang pinamumunuan ng kabataang katutubo. Pag nagawa ito, magkakaroon sila ng posisyon sa pamamahala ng kanilang komunidad, upang siguruhing mayroon silang kontrol sa kanilang hinaharap,” Enconmienda pointed out.

The FBLP is a year-long leadership development program and social innovation laboratory based on the Bridging Leadership management approach to address social inequalities.