For many years, age has always been a basis for one’s capabilities. The past generation upheld a mindset of misconceptions that cruelly became the criteria of who can create change. However, that stops today. Modern-day youth leaders have overcome this challenge and learned how to voice out, take action, and prove that those misconceptions were never true.
The International Youth Day celebration is commemorated every 12th day of August. Yet, the Interact Clubs of District 3850 believed that the youth deserved more than just a day to recognize and give justification to the legacy that each one of them are creating. This is what made the first International Youth Month celebration for the whole District 3850 come to life.
The event kicked off on the first day of August with a digital art competition. #InterART was partnered with the theme: “Boses ng Kabataan para sa #Halalan2022” with the goal of showcasing the creative side of the youth and fuel the lack of information about their importance in the society, most especially in casting their ballots for the 2022 elections. Alongside, “Feature Friday” made every Friday of the week exciting. Chosen Interactors were given the privilege to share their journey and inspire their fellow youth to welcome themselves into the realm of leadership.
Furthermore, the main highlight of the whole celebration was the rise of the first ever international event organized by the district for Rotary Year 2021 to 2022. “YOUth CAN: The Intergenerational Responsibility” was a forum headed by International Service Director – Enrica Marian Dinopol. The event was organized virtually via Zoom and was co-presented by Ang Sandigan, in partnership with District 3780, District 3800, District 3810 and District 3860. It was also in coordination with Renaissance Youth Leaders Forum, SUSG High School Affairs Executive Committee, and Project Space Impact.
“YOUthCAN 2021 with it’s theme “The Intergenerational Responsibility” at its surface was an avenue where individuals all across the nation were given the opportunity to connect, speak out, and be heard with other fellow youth advocates. However, I believe that at its core this virtual youth forum served a much greater purpose and that was redefining the capacity of our youth to consistently make an impact in our nation. When I first brought this idea of a virtual forum to life, I had no idea that it would have been able to produce such a magnitude of empowerment towards so many people. In all honesty, I only had one goal in mind and that was to generate a platform wherein we could increase the visibility of our nation’s youth. I also recognized how the circumstances brought upon by this pandemic, leave the youth questioning their capabilities. Not only that, but we are often told that the youth is the “hope of our nation” but I truly believe it is OUR Collaborative Responsibility from generation to generation to create avenues for active youth engagement, leadership, and empowerment towards OUR YOUTH for the future of our nation! Which is why I can confidently say that YOUthCAN has served a great purpose in our month-long celebration for our youth.”
International Service Director – Enrica Marian Dinopol
The forum became the mainstream event, as it was accompanied with an esteemed set of guest leaders who shared their life-changing stories and advices to the youth. Aprille Roselle Vince Juanillo, the first speaker shared about the importance of building a leader’s confidence through advocacies. Following her, the topic: “The Intergenerational Responsibility to Empower our Youth” was tackled by Doctor Gia B. Sison. The third speaker was Attorney Chel Diokno who presented the role of the youth in the upcoming Halalan 2022.
The whole event was attended by almost 300 participants who are Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, some members of different youth-led organizations, and even independent individuals who voluntarily took part in this momentous event.
“Starting this project with the sole intention of creating an event that would benefit the youth, I never really thought of partnering with any other youth-led organizations outside District 3850. All I really thought about was to create a really big impact. Thinking that the more people we included would equal to it giving a greater impression. I thought that inviting interactors from other districts would be the best bet to do just that. I was thinking about how we were creating such a wonderful event, and I wanted to share it and give other people the chance to experience it; but then I realized the limits that the district had and how much people we can actually reach. We then came up with ways on how we can extend the initial reach we got. We were just so lucky and thankful that the youth-led organizations, that we decided to invite mainly for their purpose and drive as an organization, wholeheartedly accepted and was willing to work with us by lending us their influence. With the plan on the way and the event nearing. I couldn’t have been more grateful with the set of young individuals that we’ve worked with. It was truly an amazing experience being around great people who serve with a purpose.”, stated by District Interact Representative – John Edison Tubil.
The forum planted a seed of opportunities to the youth, in hopes that it’ll reap by helping them in discovering their true call as servant leaders and as a citizen of their country. Indeed, the Interact Clubs of District 3850 made a tremendous move that unfolded a new chapter in their district’s legacy.
The three-hour forum may not have changed the world, but it certainly molded every individual, shifted their mindset, and created nation builders to conduct initiatives, amplify the marginalize, and fight for social justice to change the world.
Photo layout by Enrica Dinopol
