In February 2024, 20 women leaders from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) became the first cohort for the Female Fellowship for the Bangsamoro (FFB) sponsored by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and the United Kingdom (UK) Government.
The delegates were women with seasoned experience in politics, government service, and civil society organizations. The objective of the FFB was to bring together a group of women who have demonstrated leadership and organizing skills that have impacted communities within the region and to further mentor them to consider taking a more active role in society through politics.
The mentors included Kenyan Members of Parliament Hon. Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona and Hon. Umulkher Harun Mohamed, Lord Jack McConnell, former First Minister of Scotland, UK’s Rt. Hon. Liz Saville Roberts, MP and Adele Poskitt, Head of Practice, Political Parties, and Movements, to share their own journeys and experiences to inspire and motivate the FFB fellows in achieving their respective goals and personal visions.
Perhaps the most welcoming aspect of the Fellowship was the sense of belongingness we felt despite coming from different religious and ethnic backgrounds, political allegiances, and fields of expertise. However, the one common denominator was that we were all women, the driving force of families, societies and communities.
During these uncertain times with elections coming up and the relative peace and order we experienced during the past six years seemingly coming to yet another form of adjustment period for the Bangsamoro people, women remain resilient and focused on making sure their families get through unscathed. To celebrate my sister fellows, I’m sharing lessons we learned during the FFB:
- Women play a pivotal role in society but they need access to strategic resources. Women create and add value wherever they are and just like assets that grow in value and profit through time, so do women with the proper investment of mentorship, knowledge, finances, and opportunities.
- Knowledge-sharing among peers open our hearts and minds to new ideas and different points of view that develop our empathy, wisdom, and mindset
- Supporting women in politics allows women to have their voices heard and their needs addressed. There should be more lobbying to make spaces for women to lead, legislate, and execute government programs for the benefit of the constituencies
- We should break the glass ceilings and enable women to rise and exact positive changes for the whole of society. Although there are sectors in society that are within reach when women are at the forefront of service delivery and negotiations, they should not be limited to women-centric spaces for they are able to serve in all fields.
- Men and women complement each other, whether at home or in their roles in society. My sister fellows shared how the men in their lives supported them throughout their leadership journey. Similarly, gender roles should reflect the importance of cooperation and not competition.
- Be beautifully bold in knowing what you want in life. Set directions and take control. Be decisive and unapologetic. But also learn the importance of soft power and navigating the egos and hubris that permeate the world of politics.
- Take care of yourself and your mental health. Politics is as much a psychological battlefield as it is about public service. Our constituents deserve the best version of you. Each vote they cast is filled with hope that in you lies the power to change their lives for the better with every minute you stay in your elected position. They deserve nothing less.
It was a bittersweet feeling parting ways with my sister fellows who became such an integral part of the past year. The international mentorship combined with the guidance of our women leaders who understood the local political and social contexts motivated us to take on the challenge to help shape the future of a better Bangsamoro region.
(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Nur-Ainee Tan Lim is the Head Secretariat and Chair of the Socio-economic Subcommittee of the GPH-MNLF Peace Implementing Committee. She is currently the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Social Services and Development in the BARMM. She is the daughter of MNLF founding Chairman Nur Misuari and Bangsamoro Martyr Desdemona Abubakar Tan)