Responsible Citizenship Youth Movement launched

http://www.mb.com.ph/SCAU200404257948.html
By CHRISTOPHER BERNARDO & SANTANINA VERZOSA (University of the Philippines Diliman)


If we could have a youth movement that is advocating responsible citizenship, we believe, that it is possible for others (different sectors) to follow" utters director Gil Gonzales of Institute of Solidarity Asia in the hope to move the youth in creating a positive social change to society.


Gonzales was the speaker of the half-day convocation entitled "Responsible Citizenship Youth Movement" organized by the Asia Pacific Association for Student Exchange and the Institute of Solidarity Asia in the Li Seng Giap Auditorium of the University of Asia and the Pacific on recently.


The event was participated in by youth organizations who have been a participant in last years Responsible Citizenship (Re) that was held in Makati Shangri-La. The organizations included were Voice of the Youth Network, UP Kasimag-UPCM, UP NSC, UP Circle of Entrepreneurs, DLSU-JEMA, Pampangga Corps, Rotaract Youth Club, Philippine Youth Employment Network, Ateneo- Management Information Systems Association, POLlS and the UP Debate Society.


Winners in the last year's RC Fair presented their projects to the other youth organizations. The winners of last year's RC Fair were the UP Circle of Entrepreneur, Rotaract Youth Club, Ateneo Lex, and the Ateneo-MISA, who were each given Php50,OOO. The first three organizations were able to adopt a community, which they helped thru trainings and discussions of issues concerning their community. The Ateneo-MISA on the other hand, gave 16 units of PC's, a project that cost Php200,OOO, to their selected public elementary school.


The convocation hopes to partner with other organizations and to be able to create a network where the business sector can easily identify organizations to show their support. Furthermore, Kristine Barrios, the president of AP ASE told the organizations that RCYM will be backed up by the Institute of Solidarity Asia and the World Bank Institute.


A core group will coordinate all organizations in the RCYM. The core group will be represented by different organizations with different field of interests. Gonzales and Ateneo-MISA show informally their support to the Voice of the Youth website in featuring student organizations involved in RCYM.


The election for the people who win seat in the core group is scheduled sometime on June. For more information about the event, send your email atchristopher@voty.org.

Responsible Citizenship Youth Movement launched


By CHRISTOPHER BERNARDO & SANTANINA VERZOSA (University of the Philippines Diliman)


If we could have a youth movement that is advocating responsible citizenship, we believe, that it is possible for others (different sectors) to follow" utters director Gil Gonzales of Institute of Solidarity Asia in the hope to move the youth in creating a positive social change to society.


Gonzales was the speaker of the half-day convocation entitled "Responsible Citizenship Youth Movement" organized by the Asia Pacific Association for Student Exchange and the Institute of Solidarity Asia in the Li Seng Giap Auditorium of the University of Asia and the Pacific on recently.


The event was participated in by youth organizations who have been a participant in last years Responsible Citizenship (Re) that was held in Makati Shangri-La. The organizations included were Voice of the Youth Network, UP Kasimag-UPCM, UP NSC, UP Circle of Entrepreneurs, DLSU-JEMA, Pampangga Corps, Rotaract Youth Club, Philippine Youth Employment Network, Ateneo- Management Information Systems Association, POLlS and the UP Debate Society.


Winners in the last year's RC Fair presented their projects to the other youth organizations. The winners of last year's RC Fair were the UP Circle of Entrepreneur, Rotaract Youth Club, Ateneo Lex, and the Ateneo-MISA, who were each given Php50,OOO. The first three organizations were able to adopt a community, which they helped thru trainings and discussions of issues concerning their community. The Ateneo-MISA on the other hand, gave 16 units of PC's, a project that cost Php200,OOO, to their selected public elementary school.


The convocation hopes to partner with other organizations and to be able to create a network where the business sector can easily identify organizations to show their support. Furthermore, Kristine Barrios, the president of AP ASE told the organizations that RCYM will be backed up by the Institute of Solidarity Asia and the World Bank Institute.


A core group will coordinate all organizations in the RCYM. The core group will be represented by different organizations with different field of interests. Gonzales and Ateneo-MISA show informally their support to the Voice of the Youth website in featuring student organizations involved in RCYM.


The election for the people who win seat in the core group is scheduled sometime on June. For more information about the event, send your email atchristopher@voty.org.

42,000 SKs to fight drugs
Youth set to join guided tour of drugs facilities for awareness


The government, through the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), has tapped the 42,000 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders nationwide in its intensified campaign against illegal drugs.


This was disclosed by DDB chairman and DILG Secretary Jose Lina Jr. in a press conference attended by Philippine National Police — Anti Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF) chief Deputy Director General Edgardo Aglipay, DDB deputy chairman Undersecretary Jose Calida and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director Undersecretary Anselmo Avenido.

One of the highlights was the signing of a multi-agency Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the staging of the "Lakbay Aral Kontra Droga."

Lina said that as part of the government’s determined campaign to rid the country of illegal drugs, the DDB in coordination with the DILG, PDEA, PNP, the National Youth Commission (NYC), Sangguniang Kabataan National Federation (SKNF) and other agencies will stage the "Lakbay Aral Kontra Droga" to generate awareness among the youth on the effects of illegal drugs.

The project, Lina said, will be held on April 21 when students will be given a guided tour to rehabilitation centers, mental centers, make believe drug laboratories and drug museums and prisons.

Calida said the tour will also include visits to the DDB-PDEA, PNP, National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), New Bilibid Prisons (NBP), Center for Ultimate Rehabilitation of Drug Dependents (CUREDD) in Bicutan, at a cemetery and the Victory Leadership Building at the Global City where workshops and lectures will be conducted.

"The objective of the tour is to educate participants on the effects of prohibited drugs through actual field visit and interactions," he said.

Highlight of the tour is the launching of the "Barkada Kontra Droga" where partcipants will be issued membership IDs. It will then evolve into a collective action among the youth that would strengthen collaboration, cooperation and solidarity in their common commitment to attain a drug-free lifestyle in their schools and communities.

Under the MOA, the DDB is the overall implementor while the DILG will be part of the coordinating body for the activities relative to the project and workshops.

The PNP-AIDSOTF acts as one of the facilitators during the conduct of the program while PDEA provides the information materials. The Department of Health and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) serve as facilitators.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) and the Batang Iwas Droga Foundation (BIDA) shall provide transportation, streamers, t-shirts, bags, kits and foods for the participants while the SK and the NYC handle the accomodation of the participants.

Courtesy of the Manila Bulletin Online
(This event was also participated in by some members of VOTY NETWORK.)

Funding, anyone?


By CHRISTOPHER BERNARDO & SANTANINA VERZOSA /University of the Philippines


We don't have funds.” This is the usual argument of many organizations concerning their inability to execute their projects.


Such argument was blown away in the minds of the representatives of the organizations that participated in the recently concluded First Fund Raising Congress in the SGV Hall of the AIM Conference Center in Makati City that was organized by Venture for Fund Raising under the leadership of Jaime Faustino.


Speakers in the congress include people from foundations and HR managers of private corporations. Nicanor Perlas, Center for Alternative Development Initiatives president discussed the emergence of the initiatives of the Civil Society Sector towards nation building. He also challenged the participants to stop referring to themselves as NGOs because such terms seem to be infamous to society. Rory Tolentino of the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium and Mayan Quebral of the Venture for Fund Raising on the other hand, discussed a research they have conducted in Asia that shows that people tend to give more because of compassion.


Meanwhile, Corporations presented their active role in Corporate Social Responsibility vis-à-vis exemplary Foundations showing their support in other organizations that meet their vision or their credo. These people include, Ruiz Salazar (Johnson&Johnson), Edwin Domingo (Coca-Cola Company), Atty. Manuel Ortega (PhilAm Foundation), Zonito Torevillas (McDonalds) and Tina-Monzon Palma(Bantay Bata 163). Diversified Funding sources was discussed by Tony Meloto (Gawad Kalinga), while Dr. Grace Aquiling-Dalisay (Pambansang Samahan ng Sikolohiyang Pilipino) reported about Filipino volunteerism.


On the next day, Ramon Pedrosa (Alay sa Kawal) dealt with the issue of choosing the right Board of Directors while Raul Alcantara (International Institute of Rural Reconstruction) reported on Earned Income. Kahlil Bagatsing of the Make a Wish Foundation and Jasen Ko of ActMedia Philippines stressed the use of Technology in Fund Raising and a research conducted that shows how much people give to religious organizations, respectively. Ko stated that the best amount to ask anyone during the month is Php150 while Php1,200 within a year is preferable.


The program was facilitated by the directors of Venture of Fund Raising namely Bam Aquino and Ria Tanjuatco-Trillo. They also presented the Kyra award that included three other citations.


The Fund Raising Congress, which was participated by 200 individuals and organization, is but a single step in achieving partnerships and project tie-ups with Foundations, the Private Sector and Organizations. In relation to the Congress, an egroup was established through the initiative of the Voice of the Youth Network to serve as a venue where organizations could find funds for their projects and where Corporations could express their Corporate Social Responsibility in helping particular organizations. The egroup is open to the public. Those who wish to join may visit fund_raising_network@yahoogroups.com.

VOTY-NCJP, other youth groups to join 2004 Global Youth Service Day (GYSD)


By LLOYD LUNA / Polytechnic University of the Philippines


"Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) 2004 mobilizes youth in over 150 countries to rebuild communities, breakdown ethnic barriers and promote peace through community services.”


From Kuwait to the Philippines to Uganda, from Bolivia to India to Spain, millions of youth in over 150 countries around the world are organizing community service projects and special events to celebrate the 5th Annual Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), April 16-18.


It is in this event that the Voice of the Youth Network, the Network of Campus Journalists of the Philippines, SAVE ME Movement and other youth groups in the country have expressed their full support and commitment.


Young people around the world are responding to terrorism, war and ethnic violence by focusing their efforts to eradicate hunger and HIV/AIDS, to address education problems in their communities, and to resolve conflicts. Young volunteers are mobilizing en masse to mark this year's GYSD.


Global Youth Service Day is an annual global event led by Youth Service America, in cooperation with Global Youth Action Network, Inc., its key partner, together with a consortium of international organizations and national committees. GYSD 2004 Philippine Celebration is led by National Youth Commission and Youth for Sustainable Development in partnership with the National Coordinating Committees that include Network of Campus Journalists of the Philippines (NCJP), Tinig Kabataan (VOICE OF THE YOUTH NETWORK), Philippine Youth Employment Network, Inc., Batangas Youth Organization and Family Planning Organization of the Philippines. SAVE ME Movement, Office of the Presidential Assistant for Youth Affairs, Tuklas Katutubo, UNESCO Club, Remedios Foundation's Youth Zone Project also help for the preparation.


NCJP, the fastest growing organization of campus journalist in the Philippines, is organizing local events in different in different regions particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao under the SUMMER 2004. This program aims at inculcating moral values in journalism that involves more than 300 student publication nationwide. They coordinate on various training on modern mass media, trainings on journalism, team building activities, leadership congress and regional writing competitions. NCJP national president Patrick Asiòero says, “We are putting into writing different events that has something to do with GYSD because for us, documenting the celebration itself is very vital in also promoting the active participation of the Filipino Youth.”


In another statement, VOTY founding president and NCJP director on International Relations Pocholo Gonzales stress, “The Filipino Youth continuously and passionately inspiring, informing and involving their fellow youth, through GYSD, where young people represent a dynamic force of creativity and change.” He adds that GYSD creates a remarkable opportunity to exemplify the power of a generation uniting its efforts to build a better Philippines and a better world.


VOTY spearheads Youth Action Forum in different chapters nationwide. The program focuses on peace and development. Under this are voter's education, crime prevention, anti-terrorism law in the Philippines and other issues.


Meanwhile, leading GYSD coordinator and Asia-Pacific Coordinator Global Youth Action Network Catherine Kamping pointed out that countries around the world are beginning to recognize young people as assets, tapping into their amazing energy, commitment, and skills to solve problems especially here in the Philippines. She further notes, “Young volunteers from different geographic, socio-economic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds are organizing service projects, public awareness campaigns, and forums that tackle some of society's most intractable problems.”


Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is a public education campaign that highlights the amazing contributions made by youth year-round to their communities through volunteering.


This celebration envisions fostering youth participation and involvement and that millions of young people in countries everywhere will highlight and carry out thousands of community improvement projects. This day will be a way for local, national, and international organizations to build the capacity of an international network and organizations that promote youth participation, service and learning; to educate the public, the media, and policy-makers about the year-round contributions of young people as community leaders around the world; to mobilize youth and adults to meet the needs of their comities through volunteering; and to learn and share effective practices in youth service, youth voice, and civic engagement in the world today.