Piloting an SK Academy in Mainit, Surigao del NorteThe
Sangguniang Kabataan (
SK) (Youth Council) is the governing body in every chapter of the
Katipunan ng Kabataan (Youth Federation). Each
barangay in the Philippines is mandated by law to have its own chapter of the Katipunan ng Kabataan in which the members elect their officers called as the Sangguniang Kabataan. The Sangguniang Kabataan is an off-shoot of the KB or the
Kabataang Barangay (Village Youth) which was abolished when the Local Government Code of 1991 was enacted.
The Sangguniang Kabataan is the youth legislature in every local village or community. It also initiates policies, programs and projects for the development of youth in their respective political territories. The Chairman of the Sangguniang Kabataan acts as the Chief Executive of the Sanggunian (Council) while the Kagawad (Councilor) as the legislative council. The Kagawads approve resolutions of the Sanggunian and appropriates the money allotted to the council, a share in the revenue of the Barangay. (Excerpts from www.skacademy.neoversity.com.ph)
In Mainit, we have just elected a total of
147 Sanggunian Kabataan officials last October 29, 2007. This is a select group of Mainitnon youths, the
future Pidjangas leaders, so why don't we consolidate our resources, concentrate some of our efforts, and provide these youth with a pound-by-pound leadership skills?
While we identify the appropriate name, may I suggest to name this project the "
Pidjanga SK Leadership Skills Program".
I have 3 thoughts on how to approach this and how the Pidjanga Blog Community can be of help:
1.
Mainit-based training through 2-3 Leadership Coaches. The Pidjanga Community should select these coaches and assist them in all aspect of the Mainit SK Leadership Skills Program. It would be ideal to maximize connections of Pidjangas in Manila and those in the regional centers, that will connect our program to the curent leadership programs of the government e.g. DILG, DepEd, TESDA, etc. I, of course, am thinking of having First Councilor Nonong Behagan to be one of the coaches, being the youngest councilor of our town.
2.
Balik-tudlo program as envisioned by fellow Pidjanga, Professor Peter Sy of UP Diliman. An ideal venue for returning Overseas Pidjangas, balikbayans, to share their skills and expertise to the SK. This can be arranged once every quarter or at least twice a year i.e. during summer vacation (around May) and and just before Christmas (1st week of December).
3.
Online self-help courses. This is more ideal for web-based Pidjangas, especially those overseas, who have very limited opportunity to go back home and participate in the first two approaches above. The lessons learned from the Mainit-based activities can also be documented and uploaded online via YouTube, MP3 Podcasts, or simple write ups and photodocumentation via blog.
I am cooking up these ideas with Dr. Elmer Soriano, and other Pidjanga-like communities (Bulacan, Leyte), who believe that it is possible to build a
Sangguniang Kabataan Academy (
SK Academy).
I volunteered to pilot the plan in Mainit, and through the 3 approaches above, we hope to achieve the following:
1. To teach Mainit youth principles, habits and skills of effective leadership;
2. To mobilize adult Mainit leaders (onsite and online) to mentor youth leaders;
3. To improve local governance through youth leadership;
4. To renew Mainit culture; and
5. To mobilize partners, particularly the Pidjanga Blog Community, to support Mainit youth leadership development.
I will be home from November 30 to December 5 (primarily to spend sometime with Dad who is celebrating his 65th birthday on December 3), and will try to organize things for the
Pidjanga SK Academy.
You may want to join me and Konsehal Nonong do the following:
1. Identify and contact SK officers. I am thinking first of selecting a core group of 7, a manageable number. This could be the municipal SK federation.
2. Identify and invite Leadership coaches.
3. Identify learning needs of SK members.
4. Identify learning needs of leadership coaches.
5. Draft Pidjanga SK Academy curriculum.
What do you think?
Labjog PIDJANGAS!
Post:
Zimmbodilion (
www.pidjanga.blogspot.com)
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http://www.bisayabloggers.com/;
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