As the Community-Based Team Leader of Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc., Leonardo Bautista has supervised and managed the area-based operations of the province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines for almost four years. He is responsible for the implementation of the organization’s major program in the conflict affected areas of the province, particularly in community-based peacebuilding activities. As a Community Solutions Program Fellow, Bautista expects to learn more approaches to conflict transformation while developing his experience on peace practice tools, conflict analysis, and conflict resolution.

Upon returning to the Philippines, he plans to strengthen community-based peacebuilding strategies and interventions for indigenous people, an especially vulnerable group during armed conflict in the province.