Leni Valeriano (SCM Philippines)
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Every day I just feel that, in the SCM, social justice is integral to our spirituality – you can’t separate it. You can’t be SCM without social justice, you can’t be SCM without being active.
Some members of SCM have been killed, and Senior Friends. We are one among other Filipino youth groups calling for justice. We don’t just talk about how we worship – we remember the context we come from. I am personally grateful that I had the privilege to meet young people who are breaking free of apathy and individualism.
We are struggling to build a movement as strong as we can. Many of the SCM leaders have been hiding, because they are on a list. As a people, we are a very prayerful people. We’ve been colonized for centuries, and we’ve been praying a lot. I don’t think we’re less spiritual or less faithful if we take direct action. Sometimes, people think it’s beyond the realm of our faith.
- Vice Chair, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines
