Sunday, September 07, 2008 Youth groups vie for support in pursuing health programs
ABOUT a hundred students, ages ranging from 12 to 30, had a different kind of graduation yesterday.
Scholars of the Young Minds Academy (YMA) ended their eight-month-long schooling in a whole-day session that focused on proposals for community projects centering on health issues.
This batch of the YMA, a program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), began last January.
This year’s scholars zeroed in on health issues, proposing to link with local government units (LGUs). RAFI will provide the seed money for chosen projects.
Adolescent health, teenage pregnancy, smoking addiction and child mortality reduction were among the scholars’ agenda.
RAFI president Roberto Aboitiz explained in a press conference yesterday that the academy focused on health this year to support the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
Field work
The YMA, following the UN’s goals, will focus on projects for the environment, health, education, governance and poverty and social welfare within a five-year time span.
Twenty-five-year-old Aldwin Empaces is among the pioneering YMA scholars who graduated last year. His group’s proposal was among the chosen projects.
With last year’s focus on environmental issues, Empaces said his group embarked on a biogas project and has begun dialogues with LGUs in Toledo City as a partner in its implementation.
Vashti Castro, who was only 17 when she joined the academy last year, said her group has started their project on empowering youth through taking responsibility for the environment.
The proposals that get chosen must be innovative and new, Vashti said.
Evelyn Nacario Castro, executive director of Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center, clarified that even out-of-school youth can join the academy.
“We want those who are looking beyond themselves to help this community,” she said.
RAFI launched the third season of the YMA yesterday, opening up the floor to new applicants. The coming season, Aboitiz said, will look towards education. (KAB)
