Hiraya Mascara for Inclusive U

Empowering inclusive leadership in Zamboanga City State Universities.

Hiraya Mascara for Inclusive U, co-led by WMSU Lakandiwa and ZPPSU Unla Mascara, is a project aimed at making two Zamboanga-based state universities more inclusive. In a joint event, WMSU Lakandiwa and ZPPSU Unla Mascara trained student leaders who serve as the first line of support for students with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) in their respective organizations and colleges. The project aimed to decentralize responsibility for inclusion across leadership bodies within the university, ensuring that efforts to address SOGIESC-related concerns do not rest solely on a few central organizations. By distributing this responsibility across colleges and student councils, the initiative strengthened systems for documenting concerns and ensuring that each case is addressed through proper channels and due process.

Initially targeting three colleges, WMSU Lakandiwa surpassed its goal by securing commitments from twelve colleges and their local student councils at Western Mindanao State University. Together, they formalized their partnership with WMSU Lakandiwa and established Pride Help Desks within their colleges—spaces that will be accessible to students, where they can safely raise concerns related to SOGIESC. Beyond setting up these desks, WMSU Lakandiwa also developed referral mechanisms to ensure that concerns raised by students do not end at documentation but are met with appropriate action. This system connects students to professional and institutional support pathways capable of addressing specific needs with care and accountability.

 
Building on this momentum, the initiative sparked a collaboration with the University Gender Association (UGA), a central body that brings together localized gender clubs across the university. Initially, the UGA had been hesitant towards the establishment of the Pride Help Desk, believing that the association already fulfilled its purpose. However, after the summit, perspectives shifted: local student councils and the UGA expressed interest in collaborating with WMSU Lakandiwa for another session, this time focused on raising awareness about the grievance mechanisms available within the university and the referral pathways developed under the SIKAT LGBTIQ+ project. This collaboration not only strengthened relationships across student leadership bodies but also laid the groundwork for more collaborative, accessible, informed, and inclusive support systems on campus. 

On the other hand, at Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University, the journey toward accessible gender support faced unique challenges. The university currently operates under a centralized system, with UNLA Mascara serving as the sole body responsible for gender and development. Without departmental gender clubs, students often face delays when seeking assistance and are hesitant to approach a single university-wide office due to various reasons. Although the academic calendar prevented the immediate formation of local gender clubs, UNLA Mascara successfully lobbied within their university administration, resulting in a forward-looking memorandum that ensures future student leaders incorporate the formation of these clubs into their campaigns and advocacy. In this way, the seeds for a more inclusive, decentralized support system have been planted, promising a campus where every student can find a voice and access the support they need.