LAOAG CITY — A group of senior high school students and young professionals (yuppies) are going out of their comfort zones to extend a helping hand and make change work for everyone.
Lhester Jay Gaba, a senior high school coordinator of Catagtaguen National High School (CNHS) in Banna town, reported Tuesday that various livelihood seminars, greening programs, and other information and education campaigns are being prepared this summer to make the youth productive during their school break.
“It is so desolating to note that when we talk about revolutionizing our community, some individuals and organizations would not put so much trust and confidence to collaborate and cooperate with our millennial-learners for they are falsely accused as lazy, passive, self-centered and individuals who lack interpersonal skills and sense for the world, and construed as persons that cannot exhaust anything for development,” said Gaba, as he himself witnessed how the students in his hometown rekindle the spirit of bayanihan through their acts of volunteerism to empower the remotest parts of the municipality.
In cooperation with the Association of Barangay Council, local government unit (LGU), Department of Social Welfare and Development, and other stakeholders, Gaba said these students show their eagerness to make a safe and sound community, as they helped in repainting and repairing community centers and waiting sheds, while promoting family values and inspiring out-of-school youth and children.
In support to the war on drugs campaign of the Duterte administration, the senior high students of Banna developed campaign brochures and tarpaulins, as they conducted symposiums on anti-drug addiction.
This activity is in partnership with the municipal health personnel and the police.
Meanwhile, the Grade 12 students of the CNHS launched the so-called “Basura Ko, Sagot Ko: A Key to Greening and Cleaning Movement” which aims to raise awareness on environment protection.
The movement’s activities include students facilitating information campaign and trainings involving families in remotest villages.
Backed by the LGU of Banna, town mayor Carlito Abadilla Jr. shared his excitement about strong youth involvement and participation in his hometown, which reflects a new breed of incoming leaders in Banna town.
Aside from that, the same group is also strengthening their participation in youth leadership trainings, particularly in the preparation of action plans, budgeting, exercising of rights and duties in governance, fighting teenage pressing issues and inequality, and responding to the demands of the present context of leadership and development.
