What is the best way to celebrate the gift-giving season?

For some people like Ency Encinares, a volunteer deaf mute teacher, and Venerva Amil, a teacher for the Bajau community in Barangay Alaska Mambaling, Cebu City, volunteering for a cause is the best form of a gift this yuletide season.

They both define volunteerism as serving without something in return, as long as the one doing it happy with what he or she is doing doing. They also associate volunteerism as saying the truth, letting the people know that one is sincere with his or her voluntary service.

Encinares and Amil were guests during the “Pagtuki” episode last Dec. 3 when the topic was on the state of the Cebuano volunteerism. Pagtuki is the weekly radio program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) aired every Saturday morning over dyLA.

“When I was still in college, I belonged to an organization that is into helping the community. I have had worries, such as failing my subjects since I gave so much of my time as a volunteer. But at the end of the day, I find fulfillment in what I was doing,” Encinares explained.

He added that he would have had a hard time learning the sign language if he was not dedicated and passionate about it.

For Amil, she has seen the need for the Bajau community to focus on education, especially learning the Cebuano language.

“I decided to share my knowledge with them. Even though there are a lot of challenges being a volunteer teacher, such as getting the cooperation of the Bajau community, these are not reasons for me to stop. I know majority of my students want to learn. I want to impart to them that education is very relevant in our lives,” Amil shared in Cebuano.

Apart from sharing their personal experiences on volunteerism, they also encouraged the public, particularly the youth, to do voluntary work and contribute to community development.

“Volunteerism should start in us. Set yourself as an example so that the rest will follow,” Amil advised. (by Hannah Reoma/RAFI intern)

The AYLC brings together 70 of the most outstanding student leaders from the country

The ASEF University Alumni Network (ASEFUAN), the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF) call for participants for the 2008 Model ASEM in Beijing, a conference and simulation of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), aimed at international students with strong interest in the political, economic and social relations between Asia and Europe.

The 2008 Model ASEM will take place in Beijing, China from the 25 to 27 September 2008.

Individuals applying to the 2008 Model ASEM must meet the Model ASEM selection criteria. They need to be students enrolled at a recognised University and have a demonstrated record of scholarship and leadership in their discipline. Delegates must also be proficient in English, which is the official language of the Model ASEM conference. Participants also need to be nationals of an ASEM member country.

Applicants are encouraged to fill in an online application. Alternatively, Read the full story

The National Youth Center of Korea is inviting at least two (2) nominees to the 2008 Asian Youth Workers’ Training Program to be conducted on September 17 to October 17, 2008 in Korea .

Objectives. To build up practical partnership with sustainable relationship Promotion to youth worker’s ability to improve the value of youth activity Understanding Korean youth policy, activity and culture

Expenses. Roundtrip airfare expenses will be paid for by the participant or its organization; accommodation and food will be borne by the organizer although meals will not be provided by the organizer on Saturday and Sunday. Personal expenses, visa cost and other travel cost will be shouldered by the participant.

Submission of application form Deadline for submission of application form through lutchieachua@yahoo.com is August 7, 2008.

Source: NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION

WCYF 2009 is Education for Sustainable Development with the following sub themes:

1. Peace and Human Rights
   

Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines and TeaM Energy Foundation present

The 6th Search for Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations!

TAYO na!

Now on its sixth year, TAYO is hailed as the country’s leading search for outstanding groups of young Filipinos that are instrumental in the development of the country through simple, worthwhile and notable projects implemented in their communities.

The search is open to all groups, organizations, clubs or societies whose membership and leadership is composed of at least 15 members who are aged 15 to 30 years old. Organizations shall be judged on the basis of a recent program or project that made an impact in their communities. Read the full story

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is now announcing the conduct of its 1st World Population Day Writing Contest…

Along with the announcement, the UNFPA also bared its rules so to help the applicants informed and be knowledgeable of what would be the criteria as well as the procedure that should be followed.

Based on the guidelines and contest rules issued by the UNFPA, an applicant should be a resident of the Philippines, Filipino, 15-24 years of age and not a published writer or a professional journalist. The content of the essay must be original, have not been published in print or online, written in English language and should contain 1000 up to 1,500 words.

The said entries will be adjudged anonymously by a panel of judges authorized by the UNFPA with the following criteria: 50% for the substance and originality; and 50% for the writing style, composition, and organization.

In line with the celebration of the 2008 World Population Day, the write-up should focus on the theme: “Family Planning: It’s a Right, let’s Make it Real.”

The winner will be notified of the winning entry and will receive a cash prize of P5,000.00 and a Certificate of Recognition during the World Population Day Forum in Makati City on July 11, 2008. Those who came from the province will be given travel and accommodation expenses shouldered by the UNFPA.

Entry forms along with your composition should be submitted via e-mail albano@unfpa.org or through courier 30th Floor, Yuchengco Tower 1, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City addressed to Ms. Emee Lei E. Albano, until June 22, 2008.

For additional information you may contact Ms. Albano at numbers 02-901-0331, 09178593537 or e-mail at albano@unfpa.org.

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