NINETEEN Cebuano youth will fly to Europe on April 13 to April 29 as this year’s delegates to the 6th Young Minds on eXplore (YMX6), a cross-cultural immersion program that aims to provide an avenue for them to better understand European culture and their own.
The two-week youth exchange and immersion program in the Netherlands and Belgium is also intended to promote knowledge sharing, cross-cultural understanding, people-to-people connection, and development service. It also aims to nurture a deeper sense of nationalism among participants.
The 6th season of YMX are composed of two sets of delegations, one for the Netherlands and one for Belgium. Twelve youth delegates were chosen as part of the delegation to the Netherlands and eight youth delegates were picked as part of the delegation to Belgium.
The nineteen participants are from Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi) Young Minds Academy and Kool Adventure Camp alumni and of the Central Visayas Network of NGOs.
They are Jhon Erl Campos, Lenbi Laborte, Amber Mica Oliveros, Selena Marie Nacar, Rheanne-may Santos, Trisha Borces, Balaram Chua, Shaun Barnard Verga, Kezaiah Castro, Glenberth Tolentino, Christian Elson Homez, Sanchia Vera Rollan, Stephanie Tamayo, Zyrille Enriquez, Gerry Tubo Jr., Joe Aperdo, and June Anthony Doble, Elizar Sabinay Jr.
They would be accompanied by Central Visayas Network of NGOs’ (CenVisNet) Aldwin Joseph Empaces and Moonyeen Nida Alava and Rafi's Jenny Lea Tan–Menchavez and Anthony Dignadice as adult leaders.
“Before the actual trip, a series of activities were conducted to further prepare the delegates, like team building and learning sessions, which include the Sustainable Development Goals, permaculture, environment, familiarization about the Netherlands, Belgium, and Philippine governance; and project development,” YMX adult leader Jenny Lea Tan-Menchavez said.
YMX6 is a program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi) and Central Visayas Network of NGOs (CenVisNet) in cooperation with the City of Cebu, Vriendschapsband Haarlemmermeer Cebu (VHC), and the City of Kortrijk. (PR)