VOICE OF THE YOUTH NETWORK:
Empowering the Youth from Cyberspace to the Airwaves!

A convergence of technological extremes - that is one way to describe the efforts of a group of young individuals dedicated in reaching out and recharging what potentially is the most powerful force of the country, the Filipino Youth. Voice of the Youth (VOTY) Network, in its mission of empowering the youth, has gone back to its roots to conquer both cyberspace and the airwaves in the name of youth service.

Soaring Online!

While so many young people has been spending significant amount of time, money and energy in the Internet with online games and cyber-autographs, VOTY for several years has been reaching out to thousands to provide useful information and opportunities that young people should become aware of. The fact that the Internet provides an infinite wealth of these opportunities had long been motivated 25 year-old, Pocholo Gonzales, founder of the internationally recognized and award winning organization. Through VOTY these milestones are shared to the Filipino youth.
He believes that the youth should realize that the right use of technology could provide them opportunities that would make them literally go to places and become involved in once in a lifetime activities. Take it from someone who, despite coming from humble beginnings, has gone to more than twenty countries around the world because of international youth events that are widely circulated in the Internet. Take note, these travels are for free.
All of these youth affairs in and out of the country are made available online through the continuously evolving VOTY website, www.voty.org and the e-groups that have been reaching thousands of email accounts around the world. More to that, the website also provides services offered by VOTY and its partner international and local organizations. It is also a venue where young people could voice – out their concerns to the society and VOTY addresses these concerns by providing real actions.
Even if there is 11.8 million Internet users in the country at present and the figure is expected to double in the coming years, still millions of young people in the country have not been introduced to computers. However, cellular phones have undeniably penetrated almost everyone from all walks of life, especially now that access is getting as cheap as it gets. Internet services even provide technically free SMS and MMS services. Not to be left out, VOTY once again infuses youth empowerment to mobile technology. This is through the VOTY Power Groups. Simply by typing ENTER VOTY and sending to 2213 makes one already a cyber-member, receiving updates on youth events. It’s another innovation indeed from a technologically driven group of young idealists.

Soaring On - Air!

Innovator, pioneer and responsible risk taker, VOTY returns to an industry that younger generation somehow turned away from all these years. It’s the AM Radio - the broadcast medium that started it all yet still prevails as the most affordable and accessible… not to mention still being at the frontline of journalism. At the face of the triumph of highly commercialized FM and “MTV generation”, who would’ve thought that a group of ordinary students and yuppies just bursting with bright ideas regularly flock inside a small radio booth in Quezon City? For one hour every Saturday noon, young people make a pro-active noise on the airwaves in a radio program dubbed as “Lakas – Kabataan, Tinig Kabataan: RECHARGED” or LKTKR aired over DZME 1530kHz. LKTKR in fact is the on – air version of the VOTY website.
Taking the challenge of reintroducing AM Radio to young people, what could be more effective than putting them on the spotlight, or in this case a microphone that could be heard nationwide? Though not as perky or thrilling than being a celebrity wannabe on TV or a DJ on FM, it’s an equal delight to witness how passionate young people could get when they want to be taken seriously.
As media focus more in trivial if not in bad news, young people that truly makes sense in society has been receiving less exposure than what they truly deserve. It would take a long process of psychological and cultural transformation to divert young people’s attention away from apathy and turn towards nation building. However, as long as VOTY successfully scouts for these individuals and youth organizations to recognize and maximize what’s innate, there’s really a silver lining ahead.
Denouncing absurd and nonsense debates, topics on VOICE OUT segment revolves around youth empowerment and advocacy, while special guests for BILIB KAMI SA’YO are inspiring youth leaders and achievers, even celebrities that truly goes beyond making cute faces. JOIN KAYO DITO is just overflowing with worthwhile youth events and RIBYU SA RADYO puts the sense in entertainment and trends. But the major difference with LKTKR is that it has more actions than talk, making you realize that good things really do happen in the country and it’s all because of the YOUTH.
Imagine all of these high-tech efforts out of pure volunteerism. Now, youth service has never been “cooler”.
VOTY remains a firm believer that the YOUTH is the HOPE of the country not only for the FUTURE but the PRESENT as well. Service, action, volunteerism, and advocacy mobilized by technology and media… this is the Voice of the Youth Network - inspiring, informing, involving and empowering! The commitment goes on and the possibilities are as infinite as both the airwaves and cyberspace combined.