Let’s LEaP: Empowering Youth Organizations for High-Impact Volunteer Initiatives

March 1, 2024

Written by Diane Lim

In a bold initiative to empower youth-serving organizations, Let’s LEaP: Leaping into Action Towards Youth-Centered and High-Impact Initiatives, a three-day capacity-building training program, aimed to transform the landscape of volunteerism in Northern Samar, Zamboanga City, and Zamboanga del Norte. The program was designed to equip selected youth-serving organizations with the tools and knowledge to spearhead impactful initiatives centered around the Positive Youth Development Framework.

Engaging with 19 organizations, three representatives from each participating organization engaged in a series of workshops to hone their skills in organizing youth-centered and high-impact projects. The program primarily focused on fostering meaningful engagement with underserved young people within their communities.

The first leg of the training was conducted on November 10 to 12, 2023 in Diamond Hotel, Northern Samar. For the second leg of the training, youth-serving organizations from Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Norte convened on November 17 to 19, 2023 at Hotel Marcelina, Zamboanga City.

The training spanned three days, with Kiko Miranda as the main trainer and training designer, and Rogin Eribal, ALTEC Director, as the co-trainer. Day 0 set the tone with the participants’ arrival and check-in followed by a welcome ceremony that included orientation on housekeeping, expectation setting, and the orientation on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, underlining the center’s commitment to ensuring a safe and respectful learning environment.

Day 1 commenced with insightful sessions on the Introduction to Positive Youth Development Framework and Designing Youth-Centered and Volunteer Program Designs. This set the stage for designing impactful volunteer programs tailored to the needs of their communities.

Angelo Adriatico, Creative Director of Dipolog City Eco Club (DCEC) x Greenducators ZN says that Let’s LEaP has allowed him to realize that” even the simplest activity – if aligned with meaningful causes and engaging activities – it can create [a] high impact towards youth volunteerism.”

He saw that his big aspirations for his organization are possible. “ We are often told to ‘dream big, think big’, and yet not all the time we have or are given the resources to make our dreams possible. With Let’s LEaP, it gives me [the] chance, it gives me hope, it instills me the drive to push through all my big aspirations for my organizations, my fellow youth,” Angelo said.

On Day 2, the training continued with sessions covering Introduction to Event Management, Pre-event Planning, and On-site Event Management. These included different templates in these aspects as well. The day included a mentoring session and a guide writeshop, where participants were guided through the process of crafting a proposal. The goal was to have each organization leave with an approved project proposal, ensuring that they are ready to implement the initiatives in their communities.

The morning of the final day marked the first round of proposal presentations, allowing participants to showcase their proposed activities. The afternoon session provided a second opportunity for another round of presentations and feedback. Then the participants received an orientation on the Financial and Communications Protocols of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, ensuring transparency and responsible project management.
Gualberto Lantaya, Head of Academic Affairs of Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology shared, “Personally, my favorite part is learning how to manage an event. In my years in the

office, I haven’t been to a formal training on how to design a program to manage an event from the proposal to budgeting. So this is a really holistic approach to developing youth-led programs. Other than that, I get to know other organizations sharing the same vision and aspirations of giving back to the community. In our case, we are serving an academic community; we are serving our students.

The culmination of the three-day training was marked by a closing ceremony, coupled with open mic performances that created a celebratory atmosphere. The event provided a platform for participants to showcase their talents, fostering camaraderie.

Gege Acdang, Treasure of Youth Lead Development Initiative, Inc. (Y Lead) says their favorite part of Let’s LEaP was the engagement and interaction with their fellow participants and the organizing team. “Dito sa Let’s LEaP, we just treat one another as family. Parang hindi ka mag-aalangan how to approach or how to ask questions kasi the organizers or facilitators are very open sa lahat ng ideas and they know how to handle or answer ‘yung mga certain…questions mo alam nila kung how to direct the points of your question.

‘Yong mga participants, hindi lang nag-stand as their organization but we stand as one Northern Samar community. As one Northern Samar community, nandiyan ‘yong tulungan, yung mentorship, nagkakaroon ng unity yung whole event. Yun yung favorite moments ko sa Let’s LEaP.

[We treat each other like family in Let’s LEaP. You don’t have to worry about how to approach the organizers or facilitators because they are very approachable and open to questions and they know how to answer questions in an easily understandable way.

As for my interaction with my co-participants, we don’t just mind our own business as an organization but we stand as one Northern Samar community. As one Northern Samar community, we help each other, we mentor each other, and unity is fostered in this event. These are my favorite moments in Let’s LEaP.]

Let’s LEaP not only equipped these organizations with practical tools but also created a space for collaboration, learning, and celebration. As these empowered organizations return to their communities, they carry with them the knowledge and inspiration to implement impactful volunteer initiatives, making a positive and lasting impact on the youth they serve.

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The following youth-serving organizations are part of Let’s LEaP: