Leveraging Technology and Collaboration for Peacebuilding: A Case Study of Aretes Style Empowering Bangsamoro Women in Lanao Del Sur, Philippines

This chapter explores the potential of digital transformations and collaborative partnerships in promoting transformation within Aretes Style, a youth-led social enterprise. It details the interconnected challenges of peacebuilding, sustainability, and the empowerment of marginalized post-conflict communities. Using a mixed-method research design, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies were combined to evaluate the significant influence of digital transformations on income creation, community resilience, and peace advocacy in the vulnerable villages of Lanao del Sur. Furthermore, this chapter examines the co-production tactics employed by Aretes Style, focusing on their capacity to leverage the expertise and artistic capabilities of Sagonsongan internally displaced artisans and Tugaya weavers. The results highlight the notable impact of Aretes Style’s inclusive methodology, which amplifies economic prospects for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and empowers them to engage in community development actively. The exploration emphasizes the significance of forming partnerships and fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, such as local communities, development organizations, and social entrepreneurs, to effectively attain favorable results in peacebuilding and socio-economic development. As woven by a tale of transformation and resilience, Aretes Style appears a symbol of optimism, showcasing the potential for social enterprises to effectively address the economic requirements of marginalized communities, facilitate social change, and contribute to enduring peace and sustainability through technology, cultivation of partnerships, and collaboration.