USAID, The Asia Foundation announce newest cohort of Youth Leadership and Democracy Fellows
Ready to LEAD. YouthLed and partners welcome 40 new Leadership and Democracy Fellows at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City last July 14, 2023. The Fellows will participate in a two-year youth leadership development program.
Makati City, Philippines – The Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed) project held a launch ceremony on July 14, 2023 to announce the newest cohort of the highly anticipated Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Fellowship program at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City, Metro Manila.
YouthLed, a joint project between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and The Asia Foundation, onboarded 40 new LEAD Fellows who are set to develop their political leadership skills grounded in a deep appreciation for democracy and democratic values, structures, and systems. The LEAD Fellowship is YouthLed’s two-year flagship program for youth leadership development, comprising a series of learning sessions, workshops, and mentorship programs.
“We invest in the youth because we are investing in the future of our democracy. Our youth play a vital role in shaping our democratic landscape and safeguarding its core principles, sustaining the continued progress of our society,” said YouthLed Chief of Party Natalie Christine Jorge.
For the new cohort, YouthLed introduced three executive tracks to cater to different phases and directions of youth leadership: Aspiring Leaders, Governance Champions, and Changemakers tracks.
The Aspiring Leaders track aims to build general competencies of emerging youth leaders focused on honing their democratic values, principles, and servant leadership skills.
“Gusto kong hikayatin ang mga kabataan sa makabagong henerasyon na pahalagahan at kilalanin ang sektor ng agrikultura,” shared Eunie May Fernando, an Aspiring Leader from Baler, Aurora, who is advocating for increased support to the agricultural sector. She also expressed in her message on behalf of the 10 LEAD Fellows under the Aspiring Leaders track their eagerness to grow in the program, “Through this LEAD Fellowship, I want to create inclusive spaces where youth can work together towards common goals and amplify their voices.”
Ahmed Ibn Djaliv Hataman, Provincial Board Member of the 1st District of the Province of Basilan, also highlighted in his message the potential of youth to serve, “In my work so far, I’ve met people who I’ve learned so much from, who’ve only confirmed my suspicions, and reaffirmed my hopes -- that the potential for leadership can be found in people all around us, all they need is the right opportunity.”
Hataman is from the Governance Champions track, a specialized course that aims to develop the capacity of youth in public service and those who want to create an impact through policy reform. Twelve LEAD Fellows will undergo this track. “We must empower each other, fight to earn the privilege of leadership, and most importantly, extend our power and opportunity to those who otherwise wouldn’t have had them,” he added.
Capping the messages from the fellows was Gabriel Villaruel, Artistic Director of PINTAKASI, a youth-led non-profit multi-arts organization. Gabriel is a LEAD Fellow under the Changemakers track, who reminded his co-fellows about the importance of volunteerism. “Kaya dapat nating tandaan, na bolunterismo ang nananalaytay sa dugo ng tagumpay ng kwento ng ating mga daan-daang bayani, ng EDSA People Power Revolution, at ng kasaysayang iginuguhit palang natin ngayon. Imagine the power we have if all of us realize this now.”
The Changemakers track is a specialized course that aims to enhance the capacity of youth to lead organizations and manage projects. Eighteen fellows make up the Changemakers track, the largest group in the fellowship.
In his welcoming address, USAID Democracy and Governance Team Lead Mohamed Dansoko reiterated the need for youth leadership support. “We all know that the challenges ahead are daunting -- embattled democracies, intensified climate change, increasing food insecurity, and more. Through all these, we have more than enough evidence of youth making a difference in their respective countries and at the global stage. Our combined effort to train and support young leadership have never been more crucial and with no doubt bring meaningful change.”
The Asia Foundation Deputy Country Representative Myn Garcia also expressed the Foundation’s support for the LEAD Fellowship program and the value it brings to Filipino youth. “By grounding youth leadership, youth leaders like yourselves in this room, in a comprehensive understanding of democratic governance, we are contributing to the process of strengthening young leaders to navigate and optimize multiple platforms for constructive engagement in governance.”
Beyond training, the LEAD Fellows will also access a grant support of up to Php250,000 to assist them in implementing their Change Projects geared towards developing their communities and increasing youth participation in democratic governance.
Following the success of the fellowship program inaugurated in 2021, YouthLed partnered once again with the Asian Institute of Management, the Ateneo School of Government, and the Ayala Foundation, Inc. in co-implementing the Fellowship with the second cohort. This cohort’s LEAD Fellowship journey will culminate in April 2024.
For partnerships with the LEAD Fellows, kindly email YouthLed at youthledph@asiafoundation.org.
Educators, youth leaders champion Civic Education in YouthLed Civic Education Summit
Manila, Philippines — Civic education stakeholders all over the country gathered on April 27-29, 2023 at the Diamond Hotel, Manila for the annual Civic Education Summit organized by the Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed) project.
Themed “Elevating Civic Education Skills in the 21st Century”, the three-day event aims to elevate the discourse and understanding on civic education in the country. The summit also highlighted online and offline innovative approaches in civic education that can strengthen the civic knowledge and skills of educators and learners.
The annual summit is a flagship activity of YouthLed, a project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and The Asia Foundation. The Civic Education Summit 2023 featured presentations and discussions on emerging findings on the current state of civic education in the Philippines including concrete plans to enhance it in both formal and informal sectors. Educators also showcased their experiences and pedagogical innovations on civic education teaching. YouthLed, on the other hand, put forth training opportunities and resources for educators and the youth such as the Project Citizen and Sibika Hubs.
Other topics for the three-day event include updates on upcoming education reforms that promote the civic education agenda, emerging findings on the assessment of civic education in the K-12 basic education, and a presentation of a roadmap of institutionalizing civic education in the country.
Present at the Summit was Assistant Secretary Dexter Galban from the Department of Education who relayed a message from Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte reinforcing the role of civic education in promoting good governance. “Civic education is indeed instrumental in harnessing the participation of the Filipino youth in promoting good governance guided by our common democratic ideals.”
Asec. Galban furthers that, “the Department of Education endeavors to effectively and holistically integrate civic education in our curriculum and our operations.” Ryan Washburn, Mission Director to the Philippines, Pacific Islands, and Mongolia at the USAID, also emphasized major developments to mainstream and institutionalize civic education across the country.
“USAID is supporting The Asia Foundation in preparing to formalize its partnership with the Department of Education so that civic education will be given priority throughout the DepEd Regional Offices. We are also launching Project Citizen, a civic education approach that allows students a hands-on experience in understanding how public policy impacts their lives.
“USAID is happy to support these initiatives where stakeholders work together to build an environment where democracies can thrive,” Washburn underscored.
The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative, Sam Chittick, also showed his support reinforcing The Foundation’s commitment towards improving the country’s education system through the YouthLed project.
“It’s one of the goals of YouthLed to assist in the evolution of civic education and increasing the knowledge, skills, and actions on civic rights, duties, and responsibilities among Filipino youth.We believe that civic education is fundamental in building the capacity of youth for meaningful participation in nation-building and sustaining the engagement to strengthen the country’s democracy.”
Natalie Christine Jorge, Chief of Party of the YouthLed, is optimistic about the opportunity for various stakeholders to come together and be part of the process.
“21st century civic education requires us to move beyond building good citizens to building a democratically engaged citizenry. This summit provides us an opportunity to bring together the academe, civil society, government, and the youth to share their experiences, learn, and elevate the discourse on civic education. While we have achieved gains in recent years, we need everyone’s support to continue and sustain what we have started,” Natalie shared.
Aside from a series of discussions, the summit also featured YouthLed’s resources on civic education developed in collaboration with civil society organizations, academic institutions, youth-led organizations, and the government.
YouthLed also launched its Sibika Hubs at the summit which pushes its goal further on institutionalizing civic education in the country. Sibika Hubs are centralized resource, network, and community hubs that aim to make civic education and engagement accessible among Filipino youth in the country. The hubs are currently piloted in the University of the Philippines Visayas in Iloilo and FAITH Colleges in Batangas.
MEDIA CONTACT
Jann Adriel Nisperos
Communications Officer
Youth Leadership for Democracy | The Asia Foundation jannadriel.nisperos@asiafoundation.org
Anne Camille Brion
Communications Officer
Youth Leadership for Democracy | The Asia Foundation annecamille.brion@asiafoundation.org
Mandaluyong City, Manila – Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed) in partnership with the Social Weather Stations (SWS) has conducted a national youth survey to gain more understanding and insight on the wellbeing and aspirations, civic participation, and political participation of Filipino Youth in a survey and report called “The State of the Filipino Youth 2021”.
The survey, which was designed to provide a comprehensive insight on the Filipino youth was conducted in March 14-29, 2021, across all regions in the country and in select major cities and vote-rich areas. The respondents are composed of 4,900 youth between the ages of 15-30 years old, majority of which (81%) are Class D which represent the largest bulk of families in the Philippines. The last youth survey of this scale was conducted by SWS in 1996.
Filipino Youth Wellbeing and Aspirations
Survey results reveal that young Filipinos outlook on their quality of life has a net optimism score of +72 compared to youth in 1996 at +46 and adults in 2019 at +30. Seventy-six percent of youth say that their quality of life will improve in the next five years. This is followed by 18% who say it will stay the same and only 4% who say it will worsen.
A large majority of young Filipinos also feel pride in being a Filipino at 81%, compared to young Filipinos in 1996 at 69%.
In terms of aspirations, majority of youth (72%) say that their goal is to help parents and siblings financially. When asked about work opportunities, 33% say that they have enough good opportunities from where they are based while only 8% say that they prefer working and living abroad than in the Philippines.
Despite a period of lockdowns during the pandemic, 67% of young Filipinos say that they have good health. This is higher compared to the same question for adults in June 2019 (63%) and to the for youth in April 1996 (51%).
Filipino Youth and Civic Participation
The survey also revealed that youth are more inclined towards individual civic political action and issue-based collective action. Individual engagement include liking or sharing posts on social media and seeking out news on political issues. Youth are also more likely to take action on issues that need to be addressed such as poverty, violence and abuse against women and children, lack of access to quality education, climate change, and response to the COVID-19 crisis, among other issues.
According to Natalie Christine Jorge, Chief of Party of Youth Leadership for Democracy, "Results show us that young Filipinos are more inclined toward individual civic political action online and on issue-based collective action. There is less interest on politics but more focus on social issues and social change. By allowing this generation of young Filipinos to organize, express themselves this way, we pave the way for stronger democratic engagement."
Youth organizations (45%) also serve as the main point of entry for youth participation and leadership.
In finding references on the responsibilities of a Filipino citizen, the top five sources of information among the youth is the home (24%), traditional mass media (20%), high school (17%), social media (16%), college (5%), and community organization (5%).
Filipino Youth and Political Participation
Eighty-six percent of Filipino youth believe that they can make a change in society by actively campaigning and voting for candidates they believe in for the upcoming elections. When asked if they agree that elections in their precinct will be clean, safe, and proper, 75% agreed with this statement. This agreement is strong in Mindanao (84%), Visayas (77%) and Luzon (72%) while good in Metro Manila (63%).
Survey results reveal that the strongest influence in Filipino Youth’s decision on whom to vote for in the national level is the endorsement of one’s family at 54%, political experts at 29%, traditional media and community leaders both at 19% each, and close friends at 18%. These findings remain consistent across all age groups and socio-demographic status.
Similar with the decision on whom to vote for, youth also look to family (59%) as a guide on their stance on political issues and look to their family (57%) as a guide on their support for government policies and activities.
Jorge adds, “These results highlight and give focus to the family as the main political influencer for Filipino youth. This can serve as a guide for civic education and voter education entry points, looking to the family as political units, community and family focused advocacy campaigns and civic education for parents and communities. We also see the youth as becoming political influencers in their families and communities.”
Youth also find traditional media very reliable and factual (20%) than social media (7%). A significant amount of youth prefer TV news coverage as sources of information about electoral candidates (45%)
Filipino Youth and Democracy
The national youth survey also show that majority of Filipino at 70% are satisfied with the way democracy works in the country, compared to 55% in 1996. Satisfaction with democracy is higher in the region of Davao del Norte (96%) compared to Ilocos (77%), Bicol (53%), Central Visayas (70%), and Metro Manila (55%).
Also included in the 2021 Youth Survey is a question on the meaning of democracy using the Asian Barometer Survey questionnaire. The results show that the most essential characteristics of democracy are social equality (33%), followed by good governance (25%), norms and procedures (22%), and freedom and liberty (19%).
Following the findings of the survey, YouthLed will be launching focus group discussions (FGDs) to validate and gain more insights from the youth across the country. The highlights of the survey will be released to the public in February 2022.
Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed) is a program that aims to increase civic engagement leading to strengthened participation in democratic governance. The YouthLed program is composed of leadership development, coalition-building, and civic education and engagement activities for the Filipino youth.
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29 September 2021—To help set the foundation of active citizenship for young Filipinos, the Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed) project of The Asia Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development has formally launched its partnership with De La Salle University’s Institute of Governance (LSIG) for a Civic Education Research which aims to review and enhance civic education programs and curriculum to contribute in improving awareness, knowledge, and action on civic rights, duties, and responsibilities among the youth.
Official Poster: Project Launch and Ceremonial Signing: Civic Education Research
Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC, President of DLSU mentioned that the partnership comes in perfect timing given the urgent need to engage and educate young Filipino citizens in standing for freedom and fighting against threats to democratic institutions. “Central to an empowered citizenry is the active participation of the younger generation. During the darkest times in our country, we have witnessed the Filipino youth as a potent force in social transformation...It is therefore imperative to continually educate and capacitate our youth about their responsibility in promoting democratic participation, participatory governance, and sustainable development.” LSIG will conduct an in-depth research and analysis of civic education programs in the country and provide recommendations for the improvement of civic education curricula for private schools, local community centers, faith-based organizations, and civil society organizations. It will also develop new civic education materials and modules that are context-specific and aligned with the goals of the YouthLed project. Br. Oca also stressed that LSIG’s efforts in research, training, and community engagement to foster democracy and good governance in the country are aligned with the Lasallian mission on faith formation, social engagement, and community building.
The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative for the Philippines Sam Chittick added that this partnership is a continuation of the organization’s 66 years of efforts to improve lives and expand opportunities for Filipinos. “The Asia Foundation’s efforts to improve the educational system, initiate reforms, and make a lasting impact geared towards skills- and capacity-building of Filipino students can help pave the way for strengthened community participation, expanded opportunities, and promote cooperation across the country.”
The Civic Education Research is an initiative under the YouthLed Project which aims to increase civic engagement leading to strengthened participation of the Filipino youth in democratic governance through three approaches: leadership development, coalition-building, and civic education.
Signing of Official Partnership Document Between The Asia Foundation and La Salle Institute of Governance.
L-R. Sam Chittik (Country Representative of The Asia Foundation). Br. Bernard OCa, FSC (President of De La Salle University). Francisco Magno (Project Lead of Civic Education Research). Natalie Christine Jorge (Chief of Party of Youth Leadership for Democracy). Ador Torneo (Director of La Salle Institute of Governance).
YouthLed Chief of Party Natalie Christine Jorge emphasized that the partnership goes beyond assessing basic education curriculum, but will look into crucial attitudes and behavior that can help sustain and enable democratic processes. “High-quality civic engagement also requires citizens, especially students to develop non-cognitive civic skills which relate to values, attitudes, readiness to listen, develop judgment and effectively participate politically and socially… Through this partnership, we can increase knowledge and understanding of citizenship as well as gain deeper insight into young people’s understanding of citizenship democracy and together, provide a strong foundation for civic duty and responsibility for future generations.”
Dr. Francisco Magno, who leads this initiative between Youthled and LSIG mentioned that throughout the course of the partnership, they will be reviewing civic education programs, undertake the development of new materials and modules, conduct pilot testing in select schools and communities, and conduct teacher-training workshops. “We see all these activities as a comprehensive effort to contribute to the review and deployment of civic education programs that would address the challenges and the needs for developing youth leadership in democratic governance.”
The results of LSIG’s Civic Education Research will be complemented by an assessment and enhancement of the scope and implementation of civic education in the K to 12 basic education curriculum which will be carried out by the U.P. Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation, Inc (UPPAF). These efforts to evaluate and improve civic education in the country are among YouthLed’s priority goals to set a strong foundation of leadership, citizenship, and nation-building among the youth so that they can build an inclusive future for all Filipinos.
YouthLed (Youth Leadership for Democracy) is a project of The Asia Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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12 June 2021 – In commemoration of the Philippines’ 123rd Independence Day, Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed) launched the third installment of its Democracy Talks themed “Usapang West Philippine Sea: Kabataan, Karagatan, Kalayaan,” which featured discussions from issue experts and insights from youth leaders.
Key experts presented an in-depth analysis of current issues and projected effects on the dispute between China and the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The event was streamed online via Zoom and Facebook with over 2000 views in its first 12 hours, focusing on young audiences.
On the Philippines vs. China territorial dispute
Dr. Renato de Castro, international relations and security expert, tackled the 2016 arbitral ruling emphasizing that China has no historical nor legal basis for claiming on the West Philippine Sea under customary laws and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He explains further how China has successfully occupied Philippine territory by employing Gray Zone Operations or strategies: “China needs the West Philippine Sea and has spent billions of dollars to discredit the ruling and assert its baseless historical narrative as basis for sovereignty. China’s goal is to seek victory not in a decisive war but through incremental moves designed to gradually improve its diplomatic and strategic positions vis-a-vis these littoral Southeast Asian states.”
Director of the U.P. Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea Atty. Jay Batongbacal supported this assertion claiming that China does not have a valid historical claim to its infamous nine-dash line area (referring to the ill-defined demarcation line used by China for its share of the significant part of the South China Sea). According to him, “Philippines is fully entitled to full 200 nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). China, in the best-case scenario, can only occupy high seas areas and continental shelf which is nowhere near the Scarborough Shoal.”
Batongbacal further explained the importance of the WPS. “55% of the world’s fishing vessels operate in the WPS and South China region, and 27% of that is the Philippines’ commercial fisheries production. It is an important source of food for millions of Filipinos, and it is part of our national heritage and identity as a nation—not only now but also in future generations.” Data also show that the Kalayaan Group of Islands alone account for 30% of total coral reefs in the Philippines and that the 500 known species of food fishes are found in WPS.
According to Professor Victor Andres Manhit, President of Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute, the dispute is nowhere near over, and we must work with our neighboring countries to help set the direction of the country’s defense posture. “The Indo-Pacific region needs to take a stronger stance against the issue. The Philippines is in a strategic position to harness the various opportunities presented by the convergence of foreign policies in the region.” He affirms that the country should utilize strategic partnerships in support of the interests of national security and other factors such as economic, technological innovations, trade, and investments.
Youth Perspectives on the WPS Dispute
The discussion also featured insights from the youth on how they can participate in this relevant issue and how they can support calls to enforce the arbitral ruling legally and peacefully.
Atty. Alex Gamboa, environmental & energy lawyer and public policy specialist, encouraged her fellow youth to take a strong position on the issue. She reiterated that as a maritime and archipelagic nation, “The sea is the spirit of the nation. We see the importance of this dispute as it is inherent in our history and our culture… We must assert these rights because the WPS has a huge role to play in our economy and our environment.”
Public school teacher and YouthLed Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Fellow Riz Supreme Comia also emphasized that the youth are not just bystanders. She added, “Dapat tumayo tayo. Tumindig sa ating kwento at karapatan bilang archipelagic state; Aksyunan ang ating kaalaman, Yakagin ang iba na magsalita; at Organisahin ang mga kaibigan at grupo na tumindig na sumamama.”
LEAD Fellow Angela Maree Encomienda also shared reminded the youth to treat the issue with urgency and to find ways to communicate these rights to the Filipinos, “It’s not just a conversation about profit, it’s about our survival and identity.”
Democracy Talks is an online series of discussions to raise awareness on relevant issues, engage issue experts, and initiate discussions among the Filipino youth. YouthLed believes the participation of the Filipino youth has a vital role in preserving the country’s democracy, and this can start by giving the Filipino youth a safe space where they can learn from experts and ask questions.
YouthLed (Youth Leadership for Democracy) is a project of The Asia Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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Youth Leadership for Democracy Announces Its 2021 Fellows
The Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed) welcomed 30 young leaders for its 2021 Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Fellowship. The LEAD Fellowship is a two-year program and the first-of-its-kind in the Philippines that strengthens the capacity of its Fellows to become champions of democratic values, participatory governance, and civic engagement.
“The YouthLed LEAD Fellowship is a unique opportunity for 30 young Filipino leaders from around the country and from diverse backgrounds to strengthen their capacity to lead, navigate, engage, and optimize platforms for change and for the improvement of governance across all arenas of engagement. With the help of issue experts, partner organizations, and mentors, the 30 LEAD Fellows will gain access to high quality training and mentoring, grant support for their project ideas and unmatched networking opportunities.” said Jeffrey Goebel, Supervisory General Development Officer of the Office of Economic Development and Governance, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines.
For the inaugural 2021 cohort, 30 LEAD fellows were selected from all over the country.
This includes fellows from the National Capital Region Capt. Ma. Melissa Bo, 27 years old, from the Armed Forces of the Philippines; Riz Comia, 22 years old, Teach for the Philippines fellow; Alexis Glenn Espina, 23 years old, from the Department of Information, Communication, and Technology; Wynona Galvez, 22 years old, from Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, Inc.; Jullia Claire M. Matienzo, 20 years old, student from the University of the Asia and Pacific; Patricia Matute, 26 years old, Executive Director of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations Awards; Arianne Bettina Morales, 24 years old, from the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines; Alexander Miguel Tianco; 21 years old, student from the University of the Philippines – Diliman.
North Luzon fellows are John D.R. from Bulacan and Elvin Laceda from Pampanga. Hernandez, 26 years old, is a teacher from Colegio San Agustin – Makati. Laceda, 26 years old, is the Chief Executive Officer RiceUp Farmers Inc.
From South Luzon are Maria Korina Bertulfo from Batangas, John Albert M. Caraan from Laguna, Rod Charlie Delos Reyes from Batangas, Angela Maree Encomienda from Camarines Sur, John Joseph Torralba Ilagan from Cavite, Samuel C. Madriaga from Laguna, Saje Miguel R. Molato from Albay, and Dexter Yang from Laguna.
Bertulfo 27 years old, is CEO and Founder of Filipina Homebased Moms. Caraan, 24 years old, is a Graduate Research Associate University of the Philippines Los Baños. Delos Reyes, 28 years old, is Managing Co-owner of HH San Pascual (HH San Pascual and Associates, Inc. Encomienda, 21 years old, is a student from Ateneo De Manila University. Ilagan, 22 years old is an Environment Management Specialist from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office of GMA, Cavite. Madriaga, 21 years old is a student from the University of the Philippines – Manila. Molato, 24 years old is CEO and Founder of Siklab Pilipinas. Lastly, Yang, 24 years old is Engagement Founder & Executive Director of GoodGovPH.
From Visayas are John Marlou B. Salido from Aklan, Shaine Solidum from Negros Occidental, Marc Helton Sua from Cebu, and Richelle Verdeprado also from Negros Occidental.
Salido, 24 years old, works at the local government unit of Kalibo. Solidum, 23 years old is with the Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Villamonte in Bacolod City. Sua, 29 years old is an educator from Ateneo Science and Art of Learning and Teaching Institute. Verdeprado, 30 years old, is Chairperson, Board of Trustees of Sowing Legacy Movement, Inc.
Lastly, fellows from Mindanao are Fatimatuzzahra Abdulmajid from BARMM, Nekka Lorelle Dagunan Abueva from Misamis Oriental, Suwaidi Alba Ebrahim from Maguindanao, Ezel R. Lambatan from Cagayan de Oro City, Fatima Malate from Davao City, Rodolfo Matucan from North Cotabato, Jalilah S. Hadji Sapiin from Lanao Del Sur, and Queenie Pearl V. Tomaro from Iligan City.
Abdulmajid, 23 years old, is a member of the faculty of Notre Dame of Jolo College. Abueva, 20 years old, is a student from the University of the Philippines – Visayas. Ebrahim, 20 years old, is also a student from Mindanao State University. Lambatan, 27 years old, is Communications Officer of the Agricultural Productivity Operations Office of Cagayan de Oro. Malate, 23 years old, is Country President of AIESEC Philippines. Matucan, 23 years old, is a student from University of Southern Mindanao. Sapiin, 29 years old, is a Peace Education Coordinator from the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education, Lanao del Sur I. Tomaro, 25 years old, is an instructor from Mindanao State University- Iligan.
“The LEAD Fellowship was developed to support young Filipinos in creating a positive impact in their communities. The Asia Foundation, in partnership with USAID, along with several organizations, institutions, and experts are working together to support and strengthen the capacity of these 30 LEAD Fellows for civic participation and democratic governance,” said Sam Chittick, Country Representative of The Asia Foundation in the Philippines.
The 2021 LEAD Fellowship aims to support informed, engaged, and empowered YouthLed leaders in their ability to participate in democratic governance through issue-based campaigns and development programs. For two years, the LEAD Fellows will have access to grant support for their respective advocacies, participate in development trainings, establish their own agencies as youth leaders, join a network of mentors, and be recognized as a member of the YouthLed network of young leaders in the Philippines.
They will also have access to full scholarships for training programs with prestigious institutions including, Asian Institute of Management’s (AIM)’s Future Bridging Leadership Program, Ateneo School of Governments (ASOG)’s Executive Education Courses, and Ayala Foundation Inc.’s (AFI)’s Servant Leadership Program. Selected YouthLed Young Leaders will also undergo mentorship activities with Makati Business Club (MBC) and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
Over 300 applications were received, and candidates underwent a rigorous and competitive selection process which included the submission of project proposals and a panel interview consisting of youth development experts, mentors, and YouthLed partner organizations.
For more details about the LEAD Fellowship, visit www.youthledph.org or e-mail the secretariat at youthledph@asiafoundation.org.
YouthLed (Youth Leadership for Democracy) is a five-year program implemented by The Asia Foundation in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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Coalition of 700-strong Youth Organizations Launched for 2022 Elections
One year before the Philippine elections, more than 700-strong youth organizations convened to launch a nationwide coalition called Kabilang Ka Sa 2022—an inclusive, issue-based, and sustained campaign for and by Filipino youth for the upcoming national and local elections.
Spearheaded by the Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed PH), #KabilangKaSa2022: A Voter Empowerment Celebration was launched online and hosted by representatives of coalition partners Macoy Dubs and Mela Habijan of We The Youth Vote, Chard Amazona of Youth Vote Philippines, Nicole Florendo of the Cebuano Youth Ambassadors, and Nabila Mohammad of the United Voices for Peace Network.
The launching event also featured guests such as Emil Tapnio and Atty. Mildred Ople of YouthLed PH, Atty. Ona Caritos of Lente Philippines, Ria Atayde, Kean Cipriano, Miggy Cruz, and Laureen Uy; with performances and messages of support from Kerwin King, Renz Saavedra, and Janina Vela
Atty. Mildred Ople, Kabilang Ka Sa 2022 Spokesperson and Program Officer of YouthLed PH acknowledged that in the 2019 elections, the young voters only contributed almost 38% of the voter turnout. “Hinihikayat natin ang mga kabataan na sabayan ang mga nakatatandang ‘suki’ ng eleksyon, kasama ang 700+ na youth organizations na bumoto sa 2022 elections.” She further encourages young Filipinos to be “superspreaders” of correct information on voters’ registration, voters’ education, and transparency in governance.
The coalition launch centered on discussions as to why youth participation is important in the 2022 elections; how the youth can respond to apprehensions about being apolitical, and how to combat fear of the pandemic and doubts on the integrity of the elections.
Through a recorded video message, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Director and Spokesperson James Jimenez reminded youth voters to continue engaging in discussions. “Makiisa ka sa mga isyung hinaharap ng bansa natin. Kapag tayo ang nakilahok sa diskusyon, nabubuo ang ating opinyon.” He adds, “Kilatisin mo na ang mga tatakbo, pag-aralan mo na ang posisyon at plataporma nila. Share what you know.”
In a panel discussion, influencers/artists also discussed how the Filipino Gen Z at Millennials can vote wisely and responsibly. Laureen Uy highlighted. “Elections belong to the people. The more that you know about your candidate the more you can inspire other people to vote.” Ria Atayde added that our role as voters does not end after elections—“It is also our responsibility to keep our leaders accountable.” Kean Cipriano also emphasized that “good governance is a lifetime commitment to taxpayers. It’s important to look at the output.”
Representatives of the Kabilang Ka Sa 2022 coalition also pledged their commitment to support the nationwide campaign to increase voters’ registration turnout, conduct and localize voters’ education program, and mobilize for an inclusive and safe election.
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#KabilangKaSa2022 is a nationwide call to action and a campaign for and led by the youth for the 2022 National and Local Elections. It is centered on a three-point agenda:
- Kasama Ka - Bilang isang Kabataang Pilipino, Kasama Ka upang palakasin ang kamalayan sa kahalagahan ng pagpaparehistro at pagboto (Accessible Registration and Voting for every citizen)
- Kabahagi Ka - Kabahagi Ka sa pananaliksik at pagbibigay linaw sa mga isyung kinakaharap ng ating bansa (Voters Education and Issue-based Agenda)
- Kaisa Ka - Kaisa ka sa pagpapatibay sa isang maayos, makabago, at maka-Pilipinong pamamahala (Good Governance and Civic Education)
This youth-led coalition aims to register at least 1-million first time voters, launch a nationwide voters registration campaign by amplifying COMELEC's i-Rehistro portal use to facilitate accessible and faster registration of voters, organize and implement together with the coalition partners a unified and issue-based voters education program, and sustain the gains of campaigns post-election for good governance and civic education engagement.
Kabilang Ka Sa 2022 believes in the spirit of bayanihan and welcomes all youth organizations nationwide regardless of background, status, political affiliation, geographical location, member composition, and social status. For organizations who are interested to be part of this coalition, register through: bit.ly/KabilangKaSa2022.
Full list of member organizations will be posted on YouthLed PH’s website and social media accounts.
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YouthLed Launches First Youth Fellowship Program for Democracy in the Philippines
Mandaluyong City, Philippines—The Asia Foundation is announcing an open call for applications for its new Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed)’s 2021 Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Fellowship. The LEAD Fellowship is the first-of-its-kind program in the Philippines empowering Filipino youth leaders to be champions of democratic values, participatory governance, and civic engagement. Applications will be accepted from February 1-28 with selections announced at the end of April on www.youthled.org.ph.
“The LEAD Fellowship was developed to support young Filipinos in creating a positive impact in their communities. The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), along with several organizations, institutions, and experts have come together to inaugurate this unique fellowship program centered on empowering youth for civic participation and democratic governance,” said Sam Chittick, Country Representative of The Asia Foundation in the Philippines.
The 2021 LEAD Fellowship aims to support informed, engaged, and empowered YouthLed leaders in their ability to navigate, engage, and optimize platforms for democratic governance through issue-based campaigns and development programs.
For the inaugural 2021 cohort, The Asia Foundation will select 30 emerging youth leaders ages 18-30 from diverse backgrounds nationwide. The LEAD Fellows will undergo a series of leadership and skills development activities, real-world application of trainings, and network-building engagements spread out from May 2021–March 2023.
Over the two years, the LEAD Fellows will have opportunities to access grants and funding for their respective organizations, participate in tailored-fit development trainings, establish their own agencies as youth leaders, join a network of mentors, and be recognized as a member of the YouthLed network of young leaders in the Philippines.
They will also have access to full scholarships for training programs with prestigious institutions including, Asian Institute of Management’s (AIM)’s Future Bridging Leadership Program, Ateneo School of Governments (ASOG)’s Executive Education Courses, and Ayala Foundation Inc.’s (AFI)’s Servant Leadership Program. Selected YouthLed Young Leaders will also undergo mentorship activities with Makati Business Club (MBC) and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
Interested candidates can submit completed applications before February 28 with the following requirements:
- Completed LEAD Fellowship application form
- Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Project Proposal
- Budget Proposal of proposed project
- Two (2) endorsement letters from an employer, teacher, dean/school principal/university president, verifiable mentor, etc. (Note: endorsement letters should not come from a candidate’s family member or relative)
YouthLed believes in providing equal opportunities regardless of one’s background, geographical origin, gender, belief system, and social status. The LEAD Fellowship also encourages individuals from the PWD, indigenous peoples, and LGBTQI+ communities to apply.
Candidates will undergo two stages of application review including the blind review and panel interview. Results will be announced by the end of April.
For more details about the LEAD Fellowship, visit www.youthled.org.ph or e-mail the secretariat at youthledph@asiafoundation.org.
YouthLed (Youth Leadership for Democracy) is a five-year program implemented by The Asia Foundation in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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