“Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan,” is one of the most popular quotes from the Philippine national hero Jose Rizal. Although it sounds cliche, it still rings true in the present and future because they lead the charge to create a more inclusive and innovative tomorrow.
Recognizing the relevance of empowering the youth, the 20th Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards, held at the Far Eastern University Auditorium last March 11, recently named the winners for their efforts and goals in five categories, namely, Culture, Arts, and Heritage; Education and Technology; Environment, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation; Health, Well-Being and Human Development; and Livelihood and Entrepreneurship.
Since TAYO launched the search for national finalists last September 2022, 491 hopeful organizations submitted their project entries, with only 20 outstanding youth groups nationwide making it to the finals.
The event, co-presented by TAYO Foundation, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, and San Miguel Corporation, showed how the winners were true advocates of this year’s theme, Siklab. It serves as a reminder of the undying flare among Filipino youth leaders to make a difference, inspire hope and unity, and positively influence future generations.
Albay Young Farmers Organization
The group’s program encourages their community, especially the youth, to actively participate in farming technology by introducing an innovative approach to organized farming technology through edible landscaping.
Open Arms Organization
Embrace a Child Programs is their flagship project that strives to empower families through free and accessible rehabilitation services and social programs.
PINATAKASI
Also known as Pinabuhay Sa Tao Ang Kwento At Sining, PINATAKASI’s project is to initiate an all-free youth-led and volunteer-led Arts Month that caters to artists of Alabat Island, Quezon Province, as their avenue for expression, freedom, and beyond.
Project TALA
The group, which also goes by Project Teatro Para sa Aktibong Layunin at Adhikain Organization, pushes Project Teatro as one of their initiatives that utilize theater as their main platform for raising awareness of HIV and AIDS, striving to create well-informed, accepting, and HIV-free Metro Poblacion A, Santiago City in Isabela.
Leader’s Council (Sacred Heart of School – Ateneo de Cebu Scouting Unit)
LOVE TO LEARN: LEARN TO EARN is a community program that aspires to help in the holistic reformation and development of children in conflict with the law.
Youth Empowering Youth Initiative
Their project focuses on food waste mitigation. It seeks to create a model for carinderias and market vendors to lessen food waste generation, raise awareness about food waste and responsible consumption, minimize food waste generated by local vendors, and increase local vendors’ average monthly income.
Iligan Safe Space
Their Safe Space Session project aims to create a non-hostile environment and a safe space for LGBTQIA+ youths of different cultures and backgrounds in Iligan City through emphatic listening, group dialogue, and facilitated “empowerment validations.”
Sangguniang Kabataan of Brgy. Talomo River
Project Descartes is a comprehensive online program offered free to interested senior high school and freshmen college students of Davao City. It covers five pre-calculus subjects and contributes to localizing Sustainable Goals for quality education and partnerships for the goals.
Shafaat Agriculture Cooperative
Mushroom for Change is their social enterprise that aims to alleviate poverty in Lanao province through mushroom production by creating an alternative source of income for farmers, women internally displaced persons from Marawi, and out-of-school youths.
The BAKA
Their Agricultural Leadership Incubation program for the Kagay-anon Youth is a year-long program that aims to capacitate the Kagay-anon Youth on the whole value chain approach, with workshops and activities such as servant leadership, agro-fishery inputs, business planning, marketing, communications, and the showcasing of agricultural produce.
The top ten winners and ten finalists received a TAYO Trophy by Toym Imao and cash prizes of P50,000 and P20,000 seed grants, respectively, to help fund their ongoing projects or start new ones. In addition to the assistance from Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines and San Miguel Corporation, all National Awardees will receive P20,000. Meanwhile, all the National Finalists will receive P10,000, courtesy of the Office of Senator Sonny Angara, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Youth.
Apart from the prizes for the top ten accomplished youth organizations, the TAYO Foundation also gave special awards to select youth groups. These were chosen by their partners and given to organizations that think beyond their missions as institutions, corporate organizations, and public offices.
With their bright minds, hopeful hearts, and dedication to making the Philippines a better place for future generations, TAYO20’s newest awardees will carry the beacon of change and development for the Filipino youth.