June 17 to June 19 ,2023
Our first-ever Civic Camp (SibiKamp) was a success!
In 2021, we organized a Civic Education and Voter’s Education webinar for our scholars to equip and empower them for the upcoming national elections. This year, we are proud to be able to expand this program to a three-day off-site learning experience!
From June 17 to 19, 2023, our scholars from Tondo, Bulacan, and Cavite came together for an unforgettable journey, engaging in the following activities:
- Day 1 was all about engaging workshops and informative lectures on the fundamentals of civic education and democracy. Led by our Deputy Executive Director, Monica Aclan, we delved into the structure of the Philippine government, our rights, civic duties, and civic participation. We also took a peek at democratic participation and governance in the USA, led by US Fellow Kelsey Collier-Wise. Marion Joseph Villar, Program Officer of YouthLed, also shared invaluable knowledge on civic participation and inspired our scholars to join the various programs of YouthLed.
- Day 2 highlighted the importance of looking back and learning about our history. Our scholars embarked on a profound journey at Bantayog ng mga Bayani, delving into the significance of our history. We paid tribute to the brave souls who resisted Martial Law, learning firsthand about their struggles and triumphs. To deepen our understanding, we watched the film “11,103,” which shed light on the lived experiences of Martial Law survivors. The day ended with an enriching panel discussion, featuring guests Boni Macaranas (Martial Law Survivor, People’s Choice Movement), Juan Gabriel Felix (Research and Social Policy Program Manager, Active Vista), and Niva Gonzales (Trustee, Bantayog ng mga Bayani).
- Day 3 was dedicated to hiking in the beautiful mountains of Masungi Georeserve! For most of them, this was their first time hiking! Amidst this adventure, they learned the importance of sustainability and the urgent need to protect our environment. They also discovered how Masungi Georeserve is leading the good fight in protecting our mountains. As our culminating activity, each scholar shared their commitment to becoming better and more active citizens of our country.
These activities allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of civic education, civic engagement, human rights, civic duties, our history, sustainability, and environmental issues – all these while forming a bond among them!
We are so proud of our scholars for the commitments they made on the final day of the program. Thank you, scholars, for your enthusiasm and for your commitment to being better and active citizens of our country.
This project is part of the YSEALI Reciprocal Exchange Project that our Deputy Executive Director, Monica Aclan, is a part of. Thank you so much to Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, YSEALI Professional Fellows Program, American Councils for International Education, and United Way of Vermillion for making this possible!
Special shoutout to US Fellow Kelsey Collier-Wise for being part of this important project and for sharing her insights and expertise during the Camp!
We are grateful to our partners for helping us bring this project to life: Bantayog ng mga Bayani, DAKILA, Active Vista, Masungi Georeserve, and Archipelago Builders!
Para sa kabataan! Para sa bayan! (For the youth! For our country!)
