RAFI awards "Best of Young Minds"

CEBU, Philippines - The 7th Season of the Young Minds Academy (YMA) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. - Eduardo Aboitiz Development and Studies Center (RAFI-EADSC) culminated with the Best of Young Minds Conference, Awards, and Graduation last November 30 at the RAFI-EADSC Building, 35 Lopez Jaena St., Cebu City.

The program was divided into two parts, the Best of Young Minds Conference in the morning and the Best of Young Minds Awards and Graduation in the afternoon.

During the conference, YMA scholars presented and advocated their team's project models, social marketing initiatives, or dream block exhibits to a range of stakeholders for potential support, implementation, and replication. The YMA scholars' projects were fruits of eight months of rigorous competence-building and character-strengthening modules and learning sessions through a series of awareness raising, experiential education, immersion and open discourse.

The YMA Season 7 is in line with the theme of urban development to support the Mega Cebu program and framework for long-term and collaborative planning and action towards a more sustainable city-region.  RAFI coordinates Mega Cebu in support of the mandate of the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) and in partnership with various public and private organizations and individuals.

In the afternoon, the Best of Young Minds Awards and Graduation was done to extol the 87 YMA scholars who graduated and to honor those among them who have excelled in YMA, both in the individual and team categories.

The awardees for the individual awards were: Mary Jedde N. Ampolitod (Generation A) and Sandra Mae Cabueñas (Generation B) - "Jon Ramon Aboitiz Medal for Personal Excellence"; Mary Jedde N. Ampolitod - "Bridging Leader"; Jhon Mark I. Aroa, Mary Jean S. Cecilio, Felix M. Diano , Jr., Trisha Anne C. Perez, Mary Cliene B. Sacil, Aldrin T. Barade, Areen Kaye G. Agdon, Mary Rose O. Arnejo, Kristan Ian D. Cabaña, Ian James P. Pillerin, Nikki Noreen A. Abad, Christian Arnold S. La Guardia, Jefer Karr C. Repolido, Antone Marie O. Ylaya, Judy Kristel V. Bayalas, Erlyn L. Mesa, and Jonas Ivan C. Riconalla - "Covenant Keepers."

For the team awards, Team Toronto's social marketing video and Team Tokyo's dream block exhibit online photo garnered the highest number of online supporters for their social marketing initiative and their dream block exhibit, respectively.  Team Tokyo also got the most online supporters for their Mega Cebu campaign.

Three YMA Teams also received the "Influencial Young Minds" award for best presentation during the conference: Generation A - Team Stockholm, Generation A - Team Curitiba, and Generation B - Team Beijing.

Team Grand Casablanca's "The Luntian Project: Integrating Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture to Address the Problem of Food Insufficiency" was also proclaimed the best community-based project and awarded the "Innovative Young Minds" award. Team Curitiba's "I-Eco Bag Mo Yan" and Team Tokyo's "Dream Block for Old Mandaue City Market" also won the "Creative Young Minds" award for best Social Marketing campaign and best Dream Block exhibit, respectively.

The "Roberto E. Aboitiz Medal for Team Excellence" was awarded to Team London (Nikki Noreen A. Abad, Jenne Mae E. Jimenez, Christian Arnold S. La Guardia, Jefer Karr C. Repolido, Antone Marie O. Ylaya) and Team Grand Casablanca (Farrah Grace P. Aton, Gwen Marielle G. Curso, Jessa Ann C. Dela Cruz, Khayla Ray Bernadine M. Rondobio, Ciara Maycee L. Salgado).

RAFI also announced that the following community-based projects were shortlisted and pre-qualified for project funding and pilot implementation among the 18 project models submitted: "Poso ko sa Cogon" by Team Buenos Aires, "Ang Balay nga Di Matumpag: Building Disaster-Resilient Households" by Team Helsinki, "Tara na sa Pajara: Open Space Utilization (Mandaue Bridge Park) Through Youth Intervention" by Team Stockholm, "The Sikad Project: Trisikad System Initiative in Poblacion, City Of Naga" by Team London, "Pasigarbo Maribago" by Team Kuala Lumpur, and "The Luntian Project: Integrating Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture to Address the Problem of Food Insufficiency" by Team Grand Casablanca.

"YMA helped me become braver in seeking new heights and facing new challenges.  It made me stronger in battling difficulties and in learning new lessons from my mistakes.  It also molded me to become bolder, to stand up for what is right with more conviction, and to take a step outside my comfort zone to lend a hand to my fellowmen.  YMA did not just change me, it transformed me," Mary Jedde Ampolitod, winner of the "Jon Ramon Aboitiz Medal for Personal Excellence" and "Bridging Leader Award" said.

The Young Minds Academy is one of the programs of RAFI-EADSC under the Leadership & Citizenship focus area which aims to groom future leaders and influencers in the community in line with the 3Cs framework of building Competence, strengthening Character, and promoting active Citizenship. The program is supported by the Unionbank of the Philippines.

For more information about YMA, please call 418-7234 local 112 and look for Jenny Lea Tan, or e-mail [email protected], or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph.

Team Grand Casablanca composed of (2nd left to right) Ciara Maycee L. Salgado , Jessa Ann C. Dela Cruz , Farrah Grace P. Aton, Khayla Ray Bernadine M. Rondobio , Gwen Marielle G. Curso was picked as having the best community-based project.  With them are RAFI Treasurer Mikel A. Aboitiz (left) and RAFI President Roberto E. Aboitiz (right). (FREEMAN)