Bendum welcomed a group of youth from neighboring Upper Pulangi communities for the second batch of Hulas, the Pulangiyen term for training and formation, and undertook a two-month modular training from 7 February to 30 March 2011. The first Hulas activity was undertaken last October to November 2010.

The Hulas activity focused on the following themes: self-mastery and teambuilding, culture and identity, environmental stewardship, culture of peace, state laws and policies and leadership skills. There were also practical training activities that provided hands-on introduction to technical skills such as sewing, basic masonry, and welding.

With eagerness, the youth participants took down notes during the lectures, especially when the laws and policies were discussed with invited resource speakers. Topics on ecological services, culture, identity and leadership skills, and laws that affect them as Indigenous Peoples, were intently absorbed.

Basic knowledge about the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act and the Mining Act held great relevance for them as indigenous youth and as part of a community living in an area with a significant mineral reserve. Another national policy, the Local Government Code, allowed them realize that they were empowered to seek assistance from their barangay officials on community concerns. For the technical skills training, they were full of enthusiasm in learning sewing, masonry, and welding, potential skills for securing future livelihood options.

This initiative responds to the need to reach out and address the skills and education needs of a growing number of indigenous youth in these upland communities who are not in school but have reached a certain level of formal education. A venue to continue their learning is necessary to prepare these youth as the next set of leaders and decision makers in their communities, and is the general intention of ESSC's project Bridging Leadership in Mindanao that Misereor supports.