Youth are said to be the driving force of our nation and thus, they can do something boundless for their communities. We believe they are adept and equipped of solving issues and problems. They can participate in the local planning and decision making identifying the developmental needs of their communities and encourage other fellow young people to partake in the positive change.
The Barugo Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation in Barugo Leyte has demonstrated a compassion and collective action thru participating in the Kalahi CIDSS activities which paves the way to implement the program efficiently.
Partnership with the Cadre of Hope
The program was introduced to Sangguniang Kabataan even before the actual signing of Specific Implementation Arrangement (SIA) with the Local Government Unit of Barugo and Department of Social Welfare and Development Kalahi CIDSS. And herein, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation , led by its president Jake Adrian Gerona, gave their pledge of commitment to assist the Local Government Unit-led implementation.
The federation sees that each sector in the society, most especially the youth, must be involved towards development. They will not succumb into brittle sob of exhaustion in trying to show that the youth of this generation are more than attributions of teenage pregnancy, drug addict and online games.
Jake Adrian Gerona, 20 years old, says, “Importante talaga an involvement han mga youth sa mga activities na para sa development kay sa youth mangud nag-start an pagiging usa nga maupay nga example ha iba nga kabataan.[ It is very significant for us, youth, to be involved in the activities concerning development because it is from us which starts the example for emulations of other young people.]”
The federation helped in throughout the program development activities such as the translation and packaging of Barangay Development Plan. In addition to, some of the federation members assisted the conduct of Waste Analysis and Characterization Study in their barangay as the Local Government Unit of Barugo has focused on Solid Waste Management as sub-project under Kalahi CIDSS program.
Also, the federation has been recognized as part of the Monitoring and Social Accountability (MMSA) Team who has the responsibility in overseeing the projects of the barangay (regardless of fund source) and provide Technical Assistance in the preparation of development plans and project proposals and monitor the implementation of these projects. In fact, they have conducted Sustainability Evaluation since September this year.
Youth Voice Heightened Through CDD
The principle of Community Driven Development (CDD) has influenced the way young leaders implement barangay programs and projects. They have expanded their skills and knowledge through voluntarily helping the activities of Kalahi CIDSS, a poverty alleviation program that empowers communities by way of CDD.
CDD Is an approach to local development that gives. control over planning decisions and investment resources to local communities. In other words, it seeks to empower local communities and identify and implement projects they most need
Through the Community-Driven Development (CDD), the group of young leaders such as Xyra Mae Acol, the Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman and at the same time Kalahi CIDSS community volunteer of Brgy. Amahit shares that Kalahi CIDSS taught her to be transparent and accountable. She also learned how to identify priority projects in her barangay.
She added , “I believe that I was elected as SK Chairman because people saw potentials in me when I became a community volunteer in Kalahi CIDSS. It helped me become transparent and have a sense of accountability.
Further, I applied what I have learned on how to identify projects that will solve the unrelenting problems in our barangay. I aligned my projects based on what CDD taught me.”
Kalahi CIDSS program promotes proactive actors of change from the poor, vulnerable and marginalized sectors of the community. It sees the youth as partners and cadre of hope of our nation.