Building a generation of successors implies
readiness for the future and readiness for change. It facilitates renewal and survival of groups, and prevents calcification and death of organizations. The flow and infusion of new leadership talent determine the viability and vitality of organizations.
Societies rest on this same readiness for the future. Communities, governments, for-profit corporations and non-profits rely on the qualities, character, and competencies of its leaders and followers. Breeding a generation of young and responsible citizens - who through a process of transformation, develop a deep sense of love of God, love of country and understanding of multi-cultural diversity - lays the groundwork for good governance, nation building, and regional development.
A country described by some as a fledgling democracy, the Philippines' potential strength and promising asset lie in the current pool of young people. About thirty percent of the country's population is below 21 years of age - this represents a fairly young citizenry. Their potentials, however, remain largely undeveloped and untrained owing to several factors - the declining quality of education, foremost. Many countries in Asia share similar demographics, but where this crop of youth today will take on the baton of leadership in the years to come depends on the education and training that they will be undertaking.
Developing this pool of fresh human capital towards responsible citizenship (national and global), and accountable leadership requires dedicated and purposeful investment.
According to the goals set by RAFI, investment comes in the form of opportunities for personal, interpersonal and functional growth; and leadership and core (i.e. values and attitudes) development.
The Foundation launches Young Minds Academy
The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., a social development non-profit organization based in the Philippines and founded in 1966, has been engaged in the field of citizenship and human development since its early beginnings. In its 40 years of existence, the foundation has 'replicated' itself and 'produced' institutions and individuals serving the needs of their respective constituencies and leading efforts in addressing social challenges.
While the approach and strategies varied and evolved through the years, the foundation's central focus remains targeted on transforming human capital towards national development and global citizenship.
"Young Minds on Fast Forward, Young Minds on Fast Track" - the youth citizenship academy - is only one of the many interrelated initiatives and efforts of the foundation.
Young Minds Academy was launched last October 18 at the Bryant George Hall, Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center of RAFI at Lopez Jaena street, Cebu City.
It is a youth development and citizenship program aimed at developing young emerging leaders, ages 12 to 30 years old. Its desired outcome is to make the youth become responsible and pro-active citizens and accountable leaders, become part of a generation of successors ready to serve the public and its interests; become world citizens promoting the virtues of peace, pluralism, tolerance, and multi-cultural understanding.
Output would be delivered through awareness drives, education, immersion and open discourses. Strategies and activities on the part of youth leaders would be to conduct research, understanding and critical analysis of societal issues and concerns, exposure to different situations and exchange of experiences among participating youth, proposal development (in the form of recommendations on programs, projects, and policies directed towards civil society, private sector, and government); presentation, advocacy, and engaging elected and appointed government, civil society, and private sector leaders to take action on their respective proposals in a Young Minds conference; and project awards and competitions where the chosen proposal will be given seed money for pilot implementation.
Approach would be experiential and team-based constituted in a semi-structured learning environment.
Young Minds is a scholarship provided by the RAFI and open for application on an annual enrollment to Pinoy youths interested and committed to be "equipped" and to serve the community in various areas of social development. The scholarships will be granted on a team basis with five members in each team per category. Interested candidates will undergo the process of enrollment, screening and panel interview before they will be admitted to the academy with the scholarship. A covenant will be signed between Young Minds and the team scholar. The academy then admits all "team scholars" to the program. The three categories are Generation III - 12 to 16 years old, Generation II - 17 to 20 years old and Generation I - 21 to 30 years old.
Applicants are required to submit a duly accomplished application form to the RAFI office at Lopez Jaena street, along with an essay of not more than 2,000 words on the topic "What Citizenship Means To Me".
Deadline for submission of application forms would be on November 18, Saturday. For inquiries, call Ms. Tim at 2555626 to 27.
Through this program, it is expected that RAFI will be able to continue "touching people and shaping the future."