Phililppines: Youth Summit in Llorente develops children, youth as partners in disaster risk reduction
By Shaira Lyle Josue, PIA youth media correspondent
Llorente Eastern Samar - Around 120 children and youth in this municipality who were gathered together for a 3-day Youth Summit on August 12-14, at the Llorente Municipal Gym, are now not only more knowledgeable about their duties and responsibilities as youth leaders, they have also been equipped to become partners of the Local Government in disaster risk reduction and management.
Conducted by the Local Government Unit, Office of the Municipal Government Operations and Plan International, the Youth Summit was participated by officers and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay Children’s Associations.
Mrs. Marites Montes representing DILG, led the discussions on the history of the Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay Children’s Associations, the link and areas of complementation of these two groups took place. The foundation of these groups was linked with a lecture on the Convention of the Rights of the Child which was facilitated by children-facilitators. The Youth leaders were asked to identify the various issues and problems that the children are having right now and their common challenges they experienced as children or youth leaders.
Rhee Telin and Valentin Escabilla, active leaders and youth Disaster Risk Reduction ambassadors from Plan-assisted areas in Southern Leyte, were invited to share their personal experiences and accomplishments as youth leaders.
Rhee, who represented the Philippines during the June 2009 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, Switzerland, inspired the participants on what they can contribute as children. He explained how they (he and his fellow students) as students pushed for the transfer of their school to a safer place.
“Change should start from within,” says Valentin who also shared his local initiatives as a former child leader.
The Youth Summit saw the forging of partnership between the SK and BCA by coming up with positive and effective action plans for the children and youth constituents in their respective barangays.
Prior to the action planning, Mrs. Montes made clarifications on the proper allocation of the 10% fund of SK which is intended for environment-related activities.
The outputs were scrutinized through giving of constructive criticisms and suggestions from among the facilitators and the participants themselves.
“Nahibaruan ko kun papaano gagamiton it budget hit SK ngan kun diin an angay gamitan, gin-encourage kami nira nga magbuhat hin maupay,” the SK Federation President Anthony Gillo said after the training. (I learned how to properly use and where to use the SK budget; we were encouraged to do what is good and right.) (PIA 8)