This was the University Social Involvement Council's call which was echoed by thirty-eight (38) in-and- out-of-school youth from various schools and remote barangays in Camarines Sur.These young women and men gathered last September 27 and 28 at the Knowledge for Development Center (KDC) of Ateneo de Naga University for a focus group discussion and training activity.

Dubbed Popularizing and Operationalizing the World Development Report:  Exercising Citizenship in Transparency in Local Government Procurement, this activity was part of the Youth Speak Up Project.  This project aims to challenge local government units to respond appropriately and expediently to the plight of the youth who are deprived of vital socio-economic, educational, and decision-making opportunities due to the lack of responsible allocation and utilization of resources for their needs.  The ensuring of benefits for the youth as invoked in the country's millennium development goals is the primary concern of this project.

The two (2)-day activity allowed the youth to explore their capacities and translate these into information and educational tools to operationalise the slogan “Kabataan, Pag-asa ng Bayan” in the household, barangay, and community levels. The project presenters who jumpstarted this exploration were Mr. Mark Garcia, Director of Silliman University’s Office of Information and Publication and Mr. Joele Eayte, Chief of Training and Operations of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System(PhilGEPS). 

Also present were Ms. Stacy Alcantara and Dr. Rose Baseleres,  Student Government President and Dean of the College of Mass Communications , respectively, of Silliman University .  Other participants were student representatives from AMA Computer College, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (Naga and Buhi), Mariners Polytechnic Colleges-Naga, Systems Technology Institute-Naga, Naga College Foundation, University of Nueva Caceres, Universidad de Sta. Isabel, and Ateneo de Naga University.

During this activity, Ateneo de Naga University, through its Social Involvement and KDC offices, tapped the University Choir and Teatro Dignos to train the out-of-school youth (OSY) from the University’s partner municipalities of Cabusao, Calabanga, Sangay, and Buhi.  Mr. Joseph Reburiano and Mr. Boboy Pesimo, moderators of both organizations, respectively, facilitated the "shar(ing of) personal stories, struggles, and aspirations” among the participants through the performing arts.  Silliman University also coordinated with the other KDCs in the country to conduct similar efforts.

An upcoming event relative to this shall be a socio-cultural presentation scheduled in the latter part of October. This will give the local youth a venue to deliver their message to LGUs and other stakeholders about its future. 

(Gemma Lee, Social Involvement Information Staff, September 29, 2008)