Last Updated (Monday, 03 October 2022 12:21)

YMCA of the Philippines conducts Youth and Staff Developmental Programs

By Francis Topia (Program Assistant and IT Staff)

The YMCA of the Philippines recently concluded two of its major developmental programs for this year. One of which is the first ever Digital and Media Literacy Workshop conducted by the National Office. This was attended by 10 local YMCA delegations from YMCA Pangasinan, Manila, Quezon City, Los Baños, San Pablo, Albay, Nueva Caceres Camarines Sur, Leyte, Cagayan de Oro, and YMCA Davao with a total of 42 registered young participants and was carried out virtually via Zoom last August 19, 26 and September 2 (Friday) from 2pm to 5pm. 

The program which aims to up skill and emphasize the digitization of information of each local YMCA to maximize its reach and presence to its communities tackled on the three important tools used in the current digital trend. The main components of the program are the basics of Graphic Designing using Photoshop and other editing software, Elements of Photography and Photo Journalism for effective storytelling and documentations, and lastly, the know-how’s of Social Media Page Management and digital marketing in communication. The participants were delighted by three experts in each field by sharing their abundant knowledge and personal techniques to better master the subject matters as well as fun interactive mini games and activities to liven up the sessions.

In one of the sessions, the participants were asked to create a poster invitation for their upcoming respective program using what they have learned and here are some of their outputs.

*from top left to bottom: YMCA of Manila: Basic Sign Language Workshop by Ivory Manio
YMCA of Leyte: Outstanding Students Ceremony by Robelyn Santos
YMCA of Albay: Eco-Allies Summit by Edelene Rosin

The second program the national office has conducted is the resurgence of the YMCA-Rizal Youth Leadership Training Institute or the YMCA-RYLTI. The program was put on respite from the previous 2 years due to the covid-19 global pandemic. This year, the program was innovated to adapt to the new normal and have been conducted both virtually for the first 6 days with supplemental 3 days limited in-person meeting at the National Office in Manila on September 4 to September 12, 2022. The Institute aimed in training top college students from various colleges and universities in the Philippines for leadership in honesty, integrity, excellence, and love for the country. The belief and conviction was that the students will be the future leaders of the nation and the world. The program was attended by 14 young budding leaders from 6 different YMCA locals from Y-Pangasinan, Manila, Makati, San Pablo, Albay, Leyte, Cagayan de Oro, and one representative from the national office. The program, despite being hybrid, were successfully orchestrated by the help of some of the alumni of the previous RYLTI batch by serving as the resource speakers for a given module and some helping in facilitating the scholars in their journey in the training.

*screen caps on one of the online sessions during the YMCA-RYTLI2022

*The 14 RYLTI scholars in Fort Santiago during the YMCA-RYLYI2022

* RYLTI Scholars teaching the children of the slum area of manila

One of the key highlights and another historic first in RYLTI is the visit of the scholars to the heart of Fort Santiago, the historical site of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal who is also the inspiration in the creation of the Institute. The scholars were also immersed to a selected urban poor community to experience the life of the marginalized.

As one of the training components, the planning/formulation, organizing, implementing and coordinating programs gave each of the scholars the chance to construct and present their Youth Led Solutions that they can implement in their respective communities. One of which, Richelmyr Manifor, from YMCA of Manila, developed her program proposal titled “Income Generating Program for Youth with Special Needs” from the inspiration she experienced from her adopted family with a child with special needs on their integration. Her YLS proposal answers one of the four pillars of the World YMCA Vision 2030 to build a Just World and empower young people specially those who are disadvantaged by giving them opportunity to showcase their skills and inventiveness in raising their own profit by creating profitable products. She hopes to implement this when she goes back to her local YMCA.

The Institute closed with a meaningful celebration through a solemn graduation ceremony with the presence of the National General Secretary of the YMCA of the Philippines, Mr. Pablito A. Tabucol, RYLTI-Alumnus and the Institute Director of the RYLTI Program, Mr. Christoper San Ramon together with some YMCA Leaders and Guests.

Shellou Grace Sanchez, from YMCA of Cagayan de Oro, one of the scholars, shared her insights and her experience in the YMCA-RYLTI 2022.

”God is so so good for introducing RYLTI to me and my co-scholars. I believed I am not only the one who have a ’cannonball’ experience. It is really indeed a life-changing and I ought to live a purposive life, like His. I am now given direction to my ’next’ and I think I have found my heart.”

Jayson Oledan, from YMCA Leyte, also one of the scholars also shares his insights on his experience on the institute training.

”The YMCA - Rizal Youth Leadership Training Institute (YMCA – RYLTI) provides me the platform to gain a deeper understanding of current national and global issues, brainstorm solutions to local problems, and improve my critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork skills.

… Throughout the training, I did not feel anxious; I am free to express myself without fear of being discriminated.”

This year’s RYLTI and Digital and Media Literacy Training program have been a testament to what will be the future activities of the YMCA of the Philippines going thru the new normal.

Photo Credits:
YMCA of the Philippines
Johnnita Faith Dela Cruz
Mel Hortaleza
https://sites.google.com/my.xu.edu.ph/rylti-batch-2022-class-history