Voice of the Youth

Our Pay It Forward Strategy: How does it work?

2010-07-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

Such strategy works when a person starts to Inspire, Inform and Involve other people other than themselves. It works better if people start to inspire, inform and involve people that they don’t even know and is a stranger to them. Of course, we can begin by inspiring, informing and involving the people who already close to us since we already have their trusts but it does not hurt if we try to go and help beyond our capacity and beyond our circle.

INSPIRE

The greatest problem right now in the Philippines is not apathy but ignorance. People are not aware on what they can do for their communities. Because of the lack of awareness they become still and just accept everything that happens. People nowadays are hopeless because they thought they couldn’t do anything to alleviate the problems of the country. Because of these feelings of hopelessness some people tend to go abroad as immigrants. This further leads to the country’s ‘brain drain”. These ignorant people who do not believe that the country has hope chose to further put the country down with such kind of an attitude.

Instead of being part of the solution, most people try to escape their responsibilities for their communities. We are chain; the failure of one is also our own failure. No matter how Filipinos try to get away from their country for a greener pasture, they would always be haunted by the fact that they did not do anything for their country.

There is no other way but for the Filipino people to have a hand in nation building. We cannot do it alone that is why we ought to cooperate with one another.

The problem right now is that media create a negative image of the Philippines in the eyes of the mass public. What they present is an exaggerated and distorted picture of what are really happening to our nation. It is quite absurd, that whenever media pictures a particular rape incident, and when such is sensationalized, more rape cases begin to mushroom. When media pictured homosexuals being killed, this is followed by one incident after another. The media have an impact in calling the public to get rid of former President Estrada. This is how powerful the media are. Media can create and destroy if it chooses to.

How to begin?

Every time we meet other people, instead of telling them about how miserable our country is, why we don’t just tell these people what they can do and what other people are already doing.

We can also help media present more positive news. We cannot completely eradicate negative news because these are really abundant and common, but we can start gathering information on what different organizations and individuals are doing in alleviating the problems of the country.

We can inspire other people by telling them that there is still hope in the country. We can tell the students that they need not migrate for a greener pasture, what they can do is to work together in creating livelihoods for themselves and for others. The Philippines has a lot of natural resource and one of this are people skills. If we can only put all things together then we need not go anywhere else to earn a living. We just need to have initiative. We can also get capital from philanthropic organizations, individuals, companies, and the international community to start our livelihood projects.

If the people are demotivated because of the kind of politics the Philippine has, we can still inspire them by telling them of the projects being conducted in model municipalities like Puerto Princesa and try to duplicate such. Instead of demonizing our local Congressmen we can try to create proposals and encourage them to support our local initiatives. The problem with politician is that some are too short sighted, thus their projects are good up to election time. This is why most politicians build waiting sheds instead of investing in long term projects such as research and the youth

If we can show to our local congressmen that investing in the youth is one of the best way for them to stay in power then they will pour in support in youth organizations. We ought to show to our local politicians that we have a collective voice, that such voice can stir the kind of politicking and the use of tax-payers money in our communities. Politicians corrupt because it is the attitude of their constituents that pressure them to corrupt. Instead of investing in the youth, most politicians invest on their next campaign. A lot of money is wasted on posters that have their faces on them instead of diverting such resources in creating livelihood project or youth formation in communities.

We are the future of this country, we ought to tell everyone we meet that there is still hope, we are that hope.

INFORM

The problems that are prevalent in our society regarding Information are the following:

Distorted Information

There is no group that evaluates whether a particular news organization is really telling the public the news without their personal biases. Some news are made to favor those who paid of its release, some journalist call these “Praise Release”. Such usually happens before election where candidate use media to confuse the public by undermining or uplifting a particular politician.

A lot of pessimism in media

About 90% of what is written in the broadsheet and broadcast in television and on radios are all about the things that affect the people negatively. There are only few news organization that tells the public about the positive things that affects them.

Not all people have access to media that caters to positive news

Radios although abundant have most often than not feature pessimistic perception of the country. There are few new materials such as broadsheets and internet materials that reaches rural areas.

Not all people know how to read and write

Not all people finish school. A lot of people in the rural areas never even got the chance to go to school. Thus, they knowledge is limited by what they hear and what they see on radio and television. Thus, most of them immediately absorbs a particular information as true instead of being critical.

A lot of people would rather spend time watching telenovelas and cartoons rather than reading a good book

This is brought about by two factors, most Filipinos did not have the chance to go to school and most people do not have the attitude to learn more than what they already know.

Abundance of smut materials in different media

The prevalence of pornographic materials both in the tabloids and in the internet causes young individuals to choose to spend more time on viewing explicit materials than learning more about the things that could really contribute a lot to their development.

What can we do?

To combat all the problems that have been identified, Voice of the Youth suggests two practical ways, these are:

Positive Use of Media

Knowing that the media is like a double edge sword, we ought to use the blade which is not yet used a lot. For sure that blade will be even sharper than the other. Such a blade is the positive edge, the positive side of media. We can “pay it forward” when, upon hearing n our community that a particular organization or an individual have done something that benefits our community, we immediately report such in the people we know that is connected in the media so that such good act will not be left unknown by others. This would also make it possible for other organizations and individuals to duplicate such kind of an activity.

Voice of the Youth Network is currently affiliated with the SCU Section of Manila Bulletin and Voice of the Youth Radio in DZHH.

Word of Mouth

We can also inform other people by simply telling them of what other organizations are currently doing in other communities. We can also inform others; especially those people close to us of other youth led activities or any kind of community base activities where they can participate.

INVOLVE

When people are informed and when they are already inspired, it is no doubt that they will find it in themselves to make themselves involve in different activities that can help their communities. Involvement need not get all of one’s time; it can be that excess time can be spent productively in helping the community on different ways possible. What is more important is for people to act, no matter how small an act is, if such act can be multiplied through the “Pay It Forward” strategy, such small act can change society.

INSPIRE! INFORM! INVOLVE!

The Group's Code of Ethics

2010-07-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

A growing body of research about healthy adolescent development emphasizes that young People need environments with basic supports like safe places to gather, good relationships with peers and adults, opportunities to learn and practice the skills they require for different roles, and constructive activities for spare time. Impact on service delivery and planning meaningful youth participation can positively influence the design and delivery of youth-serving programs. By involving young people in the planning process, services can better direct available resources to youth and be more successful at approaching issues that affect them.

Community development and health promotion research shows that people of all ages are more likely to commit to a program when they have been involved from the outset in its design and the plans to implement it. Creating opportunities for specific populations, including cultural-minority youth, youth in care, and youth with mental or physical disabilities to give input to programs designed to serve them, increases the likelihood that these groups will benefit from those programs.

The Tinig Kabataan (Voice of the Youth) is an advocacy organization. We are committed to promote youth participation and development through education and advocacy.

We believed that youth must:

Act as role models of other Youth in our communities
Act as catalysts for change
Advocate and practice responsible and honest leadership
Actively participate in programs and projects
Promote the spirit of volunteerism
Provide recruits and trainees for youth development
Commit our dedication, time, initiative, resources, skills, talents, and knowledge
Promote our cultural heritage
Assist in the formation of youth organizations
Be the fiscalizers of the youth
Vigilantly monitor the various programs & projects
Set standards and evaluate performance
Conduct research and feasibility studies
Formulate policies and concept papers
Expand awareness on the various youth issues
Actively campaign, lobby and advocate for youth issues
Be conscious of issues that affect the youth
Assist in database development and information gathering
Build networks and linkages with other stakeholders
Foster and nurture unity and cooperation among the youth

We strive to be the advocate of change for the betterment of the nation. Towards this end we uphold the values of universal human rights, preservation of heritage, human rights economic and social justice, environmental sustainability, and a lasting culture of peace. The Voice of the youth is based on the principles of:

Equity and balance in participation
Democracy and participation of all people in decision-making
Inclusion of youth from all regions, especially indigenous, marginalized groups
Honesty, openness, and transparency
Creativity, especially a commitment to remaining imaginative, fun and open-minded
Simplicity and sensitivity of language in communication
Flexibility of structure for growth and ability to adapt culturally
Respect for the individual identity of each organization and individual involved

We do not endorse violence or hatred towards any person or institution and will not affiliate with those of that behavior.

Why Youth Participation

2010-07-17T21:15:00.000-07:00

Meaningful youth participation is about recognizing and nurturing the strengths, interests, and abilities of young people by providing them with real opportunities to become involved in decisions that affect them at individual and systemic levels. This kind of participation enhances youth health because it offers young people a chance to develop important decision-making and problem-solving skills, develop meaningful relationships, and bolster self-esteem. These benefits are known to protect youth against risk-taking behaviors that can have a negative impact on both their short and long-term health. Positive youth development like adults, young people grow and develop best when they are given opportunities to experience, understand, question, and influence. During adolescence, young people begin to define their self-worth in terms of their skills and their ability to influence their environment. So for young people to make a healthy and effective transition to adulthood, they need opportunities to demonstrate that they are capable of being responsible, caring and participating members of society.

A growing body of research about healthy adolescent development emphasizes that young people need environments with basic supports like safe places to gather, good relationships with peers and adults, opportunities to learn and practice the skills they require for different roles, and constructive activities for spare time. Impact on service delivery and planning meaningful youth participation can positively influence the design and delivery of youth-serving programs. By involving young people in the planning process, services can better direct available resources to youth and be more successful at approaching issues that affect them. Community development and health promotion research shows that people of all ages are more likely to commit to a program when they have been involved from the outset in its design and the plans to implement it. Creating opportunities for specific populations, including cultural-minority youth, youth in care, and youth with mental or physical disabilities to give input to programs designed to serve them, increases the likelihood that these groups will benefit from those programs.

Voice of the Youth Network is an advocacy organization. We are committed to promote youth participation and development through education and advocacy.

We believed that youth must:

Act as role models of other Youth in our communities
Act as catalysts for change
Advocate and practice responsible and honest leadership
Actively participate in programs and projects
Promote the spirit of volunteerism
Provide recruits and trainees for youth development
Commit our dedication, time, initiative, resources, skills, talents, and knowledge
Promote our cultural heritage
Assist in the formation of youth organizations
Be fiscals of the youth
Vigilantly monitor the various youth programs & projects
Set standards and evaluate performance
Conduct research and feasibility studies
Formulate policies and concept papers
Expand awareness on the various youth issues
Actively campaign, lobby and advocate for youth issues
Be conscious of issues that affect the youth
Assist in database development and information gathering
Build networks and linkages with other stakeholders
Foster and nurture unity and cooperation among the youth

VOTY is consisting of youth ages 15-30 who has a various talents and capabilities dedicated to empowering youth through leadership, advocacy and education. This effort encourages youth to take control of their life situations while building self-esteem and improving the quality of life for themselves and other talented youth. Young people must be given the opportunity to understand organizational issues and develop their own advocacy skills. It is essential that we actively engage youth in identifying their needs, capabilities and talents allowing them to be empowered to change the cycle of their lives.

VOTY members are dedicated to servicing and presenting their talents to the young people of the Philippines to promote youth participation and development. VOTY consists of young people between the ages of 15-30 from various backgrounds, classes and experiences. These youth work together to identify and support talented children and address youth issues in the country.

The VOTY Youth Empowerment Project was founded by 5 talented youth leaders in the year of 1996. In the short existence of the program we have made an impact in the less fortunate children and youth. In the area of education and advocacy, From 1997 to 1999, VOTY has it¡¯s; own radio youth program, Radyo-Radyo and Awit-Tawanan The only youth program of it's kind in the Philippines with the same vision, to promote youth participation and development through radio broadcasting. It was aired at DZMM 630 KHZ and another youth oriented program named Sey Mo, Sey Ko?aired over DZRH 666 Khz.

In the area of youth leadership development and community education, VOTY members have been invited to present at several local, national and international conferences. VOTY members have been featured on National television and radio programs; newspapers; school and other community events. VOTY members also developed and maintain a web site.

The goals of the Youth Empowerment Programs are:

Continued improvement of educationalopportunities for talented children and youth.
Provide leadership opportunities to VOTY members.
Increase community education of youth issues.

A powerful new force engaging youth in national development

2010-07-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

Voice Of The Youth Network is an incubator of national partnerships among youth organizations in the Philippines; its mission is to facilitate youth participation and inter-generational partnership in national decision-making, to support collaboration among diverse youth organizations, and to provide tools, resources, and recognition for positive youth action to change our country.

As a national youth network in the Philippines, led by youth, empowered by technology. VOTY brings together young people in more than 78 provinces within national networks to collaborate on concrete projects addressing national problems and creating positive change.

A powerful new force engaging youth in national development, VOTY...

INFORMS the youth to realize their potentials and about the wealth of opportunities that surrounds them
INSPIRES people to follow their dreams and make a difference
INVOLVES people where their voices are heard and they can gain from the experience while fostering a sense of national, global awareness, collaboration, and leadership
EMPOWERS them through action opportunities where they translate their ideas into reality and connect to a nationwide to global communities

Real Opportunities for the Youth

2010-07-15T06:19:00.001-07:00

Voice of the Youth is about empowering other youth. It is about sharing the opportunity to attend seminars to others. By sharing information and by involving others in different youth activities they are inspired that other organizations are doing a lot in their respective communities. Because they are inspired, they are willing to duplicate, innovate or do something different that would have an impact to their communities.

Voice of the Youth is about training others to be leaders, to express their idealism. We believe that nothing is impossible if we just work hand in hand. There is no one dream of any youth that cannot be achieved once they are in VOTY. VOTY is the realization of that dream.

The VOTY Vision

2010-07-15T06:01:00.001-07:00

A nation in which young people, empowered learners, join together to bridge social, economic and technological divides; where young and old work hand in hand to dismantle cultural and geographical barriers; shaping, exploring and expressing lives rich with meaningful and fulfilling experiences.