A technology and entrepreneurship program for the youth of Mindanao, in the southern part of the Philippines, will empower and create more opportunities for them.
According to a recent report, “Coop Kicks” will engage and mobilise the youth of Mindanao, encouraging them to take part in charting the new course of the region towards peace, unity, and prosperity.
Support for the Youth
The Coop Kicks program aims to tech-up the youth through entrepreneurship and technology boot camps, pitching competitions, mentorship, incubation and marketplace support, and access to financing for innovative business ideas and models.
Coop Kicks is an ongoing project launched in October 2018. The Bangsamoro Coop Kicks, which is the program’s second leg, was launched just this March in Cotabato City.
Cooperatives, teams, or individuals, who are residents of Mindanao and have breakthrough business solutions, products and/or services awaiting kick-start can join the Coop Kicks pitch fest.
Duly registered cooperatives in Mindanao may also become part of the program as business proponents or finance providers.
Short-listed proponents can avail of free registration and take part in entrepreneurship and technology boot camps.
Moreover, the participants have a chance to become one of the finalists in the Coop Kicks final round.
Winners’ Prize
Declared winners from the final round will receive US$ 1,894.70 (PHP 100,000) worth of seed funding support.
The winners will also enjoy a plethora of prizes that include:
- Free use of a fully-supported co-working space for up to one year in Cagayan de Oro City
- A highly qualified mentor during the incubation period
- Support for business registration, processing and development
- Access to Series A funding during the full development phase
Congresswoman Bai Sandra Sema, dubbed as the Mother of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), expressed her belief that the youth is the future of the Bangsamoro.
She shared that with the ratification of the BOL, they are now relying on the youth to provide a better future for themselves as well as their elders.
The Congresswoman was happy with the turnout of enterprising youth, who showed up in Cotabato City exploring the opportunities available for them.
This shows that the Bangsamoro youth are proactively making their future brighter, particularly now that the BOL is in their court.
Bangsamoro Organic Law
This program is in line with the ratification of the Bangsmoro Organic Law (BOL) by the people and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has been established and in place.
As reported, it is now time to move forward in Mindanao.
The Bangsamoro plebiscite held on 21 January saw a majority of residents in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Cotabato City vote in favour of the law creating the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The new Muslim region is envisioned to have broader autonomy, more powers and resources, and larger territory than its predecessor, the ARMM.
