STUDENT leaders from various schools in Dalaguete and Argao in southern Cebu took part in the Musta Na Youth school-based sessions with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. Center for Leaders (Rafi CFL).
The sessions held from June 14 to 17, 2022 were attended by 280 student leaders.
The four-hour in-school sessions gave participants an opportunity to check in on one another, exchange stories, and share their challenges and coping mechanisms from the last two years since the pandemic struck.
Participants were split up into smaller breakout groups where facilitators led them through activities that allowed them to reflect on their experiences and draw lessons from as well as look forward to their goals and aspirations for the year. The sessions also had engaging plenary games and activities to get everyone involved and working together.
Rafi CFL partnered with the Mantalongon, Dalaguete, Cawayan, Casay, Argao, Talaga and Colawin National High Schools for the consecutive Musta Na Youth sessions. Several of the schools hosted the sessions in their premises.
“My highlight was when we shared our pandemic experiences with our facilitator. I enjoyed the activities and I’m also thankful to be able to participate in this kind of session,” said Marilou Beltran, student from Cawayan National High School.”
Daphne Dia, officer in charge of the RAFI Center for Leaders, said: “Musta na Youth was first designed when the Covid-19 pandemic broke and we learned of the adverse effects of the lockdown on our youth.”
“We wanted to provide spaces for the youth to share their challenges felt during the pandemic and allow them to find peers and support systems in each other. Now that we are slowly easing out of the pandemic, we look forward to providing the same support to our youth through our face-to-face sessions. As we enter the new normal, we hope to continue to provide safe spaces for our participants to grow and discover more of themselves and each other,” Dia said.
Interested organizations may email centerforleaders@rafi.ph or call them at 265 5910 ext. 1240. One may also visit the Rafi Center for Leaders Facebook page for more information.