94 scholars begin Young Minds Academy Season 7

By Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
April 11, 2013

CEBU CITY – To further engage the youth in creating a smart, inclusive, and sustainable Metro Cebu, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.-Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center (RAFI-EADSC) will tackle the Mega Cebu Program and framework in the Young Minds Academy (YMA) Season 7. This is in line with the theme, "Urban Development", which YMA is adopting for the second year.

This year’s batch of YMA scholars was officially announced during the Covenant Signing last April 2 at the Eduardo Aboitiz Hall of RAFI-EADSC Building. Ninety-four young emerging young leaders aged 13 to 20 years old will begin their eight-month leadership and citizenship development program this summer. This will include awareness-raising, experiential education, immersion, and open discourse on the dynamics and challenges facing the community, especially the 13 cities and municipalities comprising Metro Cebu. The scholars’ final output is to generate ideas and possible solutions through a team project that they could implement in partnership with the said local government units.

Evelyn Nacario-Castro, RAFI-EADSC executive director, cited Mother Teresa's missionary work as a brand of service and leadership worthy of emulation.

"She (Mother Teresa) cultivated, nurtured, and developed personal qualities and personal excellence, which became leadership qualities and leadership excellence... She strived and lived, unconsciously, as a great person by leading her life well. Her personal qualifications led to leadership qualifications. With a life well lived, many people wanted to and did, and continue, to follow her footsteps," Castro noted.

Last year, YMA Season 6 scholars were able to implement six community-based projects addressing issues and concerns on public safety and security, youth violence, transport and traffic management, flooding, and disaster risk reduction in the cities of Naga, Talisay, and Mandaue, and in the Municipality of Liloan. They were also able to gather more than 2,000 supporters for Mega Cebu through their social marketing initiatives, and designed dream block exhibits to promote smart growth and better block principles in existing urban communities.

RAFI hopes to get more innovative and creative ideas from the YMA scholars this year as it continues to advocate for a collaborative, integrated, and sustainable urban planning and development through Mega Cebu.

"An important part of the program is to let you know better the society that you are living in. You will be immersed in different communities in Metro Cebu to learn about their current situation, problems, and good to best practices. This will hopefully allow you to understand how to bring about progress that even your future children and grandchildren can enjoy," Dominica Chua, RAFI chief operating officer, addressed the new batch of scholars during the event.

YMA is a program of RAFI-EADSC under the Leadership & Citizenship focus area, which aims to groom future leaders and influences in a community that is ready to effect change. Other focus areas of RAFI are Integrated Development, Microfinance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and Education.