The youth achievers of Cavite

MANILA, Philippines – People tend to look at millennials as the lot that grew up in the zeitgeist of social media – a chaotic system of some sort where likes and favorites are the fundamental gauge to stardom.

This is the poignant, present-day reality the country faces that threatens the very last hope that we cling on – the youth.

But all hope is not lost. Not yet.

A fragment of Generation Y is on a mission to fulfill a much bigger role in our society.

Meet the Cavite Dynamic Achievers or simply, CaDA, a group of teens and professionals that think beyond fleeting happiness and superficial entertainment.

At their young age, members of CaDA are being taught to think of the bigger picture by helping out those deprived of education and assistance.

A youth-centered organization based in Bacoor Cavite, CaDA was founded in 2005 by El Cielito Foundation Inc. (ECFI), a non-stock, non-profit organization that became the advent of change that seeks to alleviate others from the grip of poverty and injustice.

Their main mission: to provide opportunities to underprivileged Filipinos so that they can in turn do the same for others.

For the past 10 years, the organization has helped children through various activities, some of which are tailor-made for youth empowerment sessions like educational tours in cultural heritage sites such as the Imelda Show Museum at Marikina and the Malacañang Palace.

They also conduct English proficiency classes focused on literature, linguistics and English festivals to improve the communication skills of the beneficiaries.

CaDA’s core program, however, is scholarship assistance to deserving students. Through their efforts, hundreds of students have been able to finish college.

“Balon ng karunungan, hagdan ng pangarap, entablado ng talento at pundasyon ng pananampalataya,” is how Anajeran Alameda, project coordinator of ECF Foundation, describes CaDA.

Alameda became involved with CaDA in high school after a group of people entered their classroom and made an announcement that they are handing out free scholarship programs and field trips.

Like every student in search of assistance, she joined the bandwagon of new recruits and grabbed her one-way ticket to free education.

She gradually fell in love with CaDA and became a promising member who religiously attended every meeting and  participated in activities that the organization conducted on Saturdays.

Everything seemed on track until her father had to work abroad. Without her father’s presence, her life started to fall apart. She grew depressed and started neglecting her studies.

Because of CaDA, she managed to turn her life around and now seeks to inspire others that life is all about the good decisions that we make.

Kimberly Joyce Sarreal, on the other hand, is one of CaDA’s pioneer beneficiaries.

Even if there was a bleak chance of going to college, she rose to the occasion and found her guiding light that led her to CaDA.

In turn, they took her in and help her get through college by providing her the assistance that she deserved.

Now, she firmly believes that being poor isn’t an excuse to surrender one’s  dreams andaspirations, having taken her situation as an advantage to achieve success in life.

Because of the organization’s assistance, she  now works as a sales service associate at the Philippine National Bank while at the same time taking up her Master’s degree at the Technological University of the Philippines.

Another beneficiary, Willa Alivio, is a living testament that anything is possible if you persevere to reach your dreams.

As a beneficiary, she was lucky enough to visit different places across the country because of the seminars that they had to attend. She also participated in outreach programs that CaDA conducted for the beaten and the weak such as abandoned children and senior citizens.

CaDA served as the pillar that led her to become a certified public accountant in a real estate company while still pursuing volunteer work for the organization.

It is never too late to make a change. Like these young achievers of Cavite, all of us can swim against the current given a little push.