This training, which is also called the Trainer's Training on the Culture of Peace (COP), is a highly interactive and participatory training. The whole training period is at least three and a half (3 �) days long. It may be held as a stay-out activity for the participants, but it is preferable to hold it as a stay-in activity. It utilizes the Panagtagbo sa Kalinaw Manual (Encounter/Dialogue of Peace). A quadripartite agreement among UNICEF, CRS, OPAPP and MinCARRD-XSF made possible the production of this trainers' manual for community level peace trainings.

In the conduct of Culture of Peace trainings, the Panagtagbo sa Kalinaw Manual requires deepening inputs or lectures, as well as lecturettes on the part of the "Youth Trainors". Instructional aids on the mode of presentation of these lectures and lecturettes have been provided to us by Mr. Eme Amancio of the CRS to effectively impart relevant information, as well as help the "Youth Trainor" achieve modular and activity objectives.

Generally, this manual is aimed to promote a culture of peace in Mindanao. Specifically, it is aimed:

1. To foster unity in diversity among the participants through values of tolerance, dialogue and mutual acceptance.
   
   
2. To provide an opportunity for the individual participant to become a peace-builder through the transformation of values, thoughts, attitudes and behavior; and
   
   
3. To present a holistic dimension of peace.
   
   

The COP training is divided into four major parts, namely:

1. Introductory Activity,
   
   
2. Module One (Historical Journey),
   
   
3. Module Two (Approaches to Peacemaking), and
   
   
4. Module Three (Towards a Culture of Peace).
   
   

KAAKBAY has concentrated on two specializations in the COP Program. These are: Culture of Peace Trainings and Peace Camps. Culture of Peace Trainings are akin to seminars in set-up, while Peace Camps, as the name implies, are organized along the lines of a camp-type set-up. For KAAKBAY, most of the trainings conducted did not include Module 2 (Approaches to Peacemaking). This was due to time constraint, as most of the seminars and symposia scheduled by contracting parties only covered three days. Three days, it seems, has become the usual length of time allotted to a training/seminar/symposium. However, we are looking forward to conducting the full coverage of the manual in future trainings.

Culture of Peace Trainings among the youth and students can readily be conducted by KAAKBAY in a cooperative or co-sharing basis with other entities if it is their wish to have this type of training held in their area. For more information, click here.