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December 10, 2010
PRESIDENT Benigno s. Aquino III poses with representatives of this year’s top Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) after presenting them their respective awards in ceremonies yesterday at Malacañang’s Heroes’ Hall.
Creating Change Through: YESkwela Kalsada PLUS Nina Ate at Kuya
When a struggling young man decided to persevere amidst a series of personal disappointments and loss, it gave birth to organization called Young Educators of Mapulang. Transforming grief from the death of his father into inspiration to help others, this young man, now known to his students as Kuya Vanjo, launched the project Lupa the project YESkwela Kalsada PLUS Nina Ate at Kuya.
What’s the Story?
YESkwela Kalsada PLUS nina Ate at Kuya is a mentoring program which is patterned after a Sunday School format. It is a combination of tutorials, outreach activities, theatre workshops that focus on youth development.
Activities under the said program strongly encourage the involvement of parents. Occasions like Grandparents Day or Halloween are used as timely 
opportunities to introduce lessons in a more entertaining way. Singing, dancing, even exercise function as vehicles for learning as well.
Thirty active members, young professionals and students alike, make up the Young Educators of Mapulang Lupa. Despite minimal funding, they continue with their commitment to hold the weekly activity YESkwela Kalsada PLUS Nina Ate at Kuya since starting out in October 2009. Sometimes they are able to acquire donations from private individuals; sometimes assistance comes from companies like Telus (Kuya Vanjo’s employer). But oftentimes expenses come from their own pockets, spending for materials needed for the weekly activities such as paper and ballpens.
But no matter how many challenges come their way, members of this organization continue to power through. Needless to say, this is a story of people seeing hope in each other, content in seeing the children they teach develop an awareness on social issues, ethics and literacy as well as gain self-confidence.
Recognition and Success
Teaching in the streets of Mapulang Lupa became the fertile ground that gave both underprivileged kids and their teachers a new perspective on life. Dessa Jean Peralta, Young Educators’ representative to the TAYO National Finals knows this success story all too well. From being part of beneficiaries from the efforts of the young volunteers, she is now a volunteer herself and is able to earn some income as a tutor.
She expressed that the Young Educators of Mapulang Lupa truly are “committed to empower and inspire every young individual in our barangay to volunteerism and community service.” Barely two years old, their project YESkwela Kalsada PLUS Nina Ate at Kuya has indeed achieved a lot.
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Creating Change Through: Davao City Youth Working Towards Saving Davao’s Last Water Source
When the members of the Watershed Management Youth Council (WMYC) learned that the natural course of the Tamugan-Panigan River in Davao is threatened with plans for the construction of a Hydroelectric Powerplant, they were very much alarmed. The information came to them as they already knew of a study projecting the demand for water in 2011 will equal supply and that the only other viable source of potabe water is the threatened Tamugan-Panigan River.
Migrio Vina Cagampang joined other youth representatives and championed her cause during the TAYO Week last December 2010. She explained the efforts of WMYC in preventing “a looming water crisis” is also inspired by lines form a Cree Indian Prophecy:
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been 
poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.
What’s the Story?
In 2007, WMYC took a stand in their hopes to protect the water supply of all 1.8 million Davaoeños. The said youth organization launched an information and education campaign advocating the Watershed Code – a city ordinance geared at protecting and preserving the watershed areas in Davao City.
Under the umbrella project called Davao City Youth Working Towards Saving Davao’s Last Water Source, they conducted school-to-school campaigns and barangay forums appealing for support from their fellow youth and Sangguniang Kabataan councils. They also lobbied their cause to local legislators through a 6- week silent protest and carried out a signature campaign garnering 40,700 signatures.
Perseverance and unfailing hope paid off as WMYC managed to convince Davaoeños to maintain the Tamugan-Panigan River strictly as a source of drinking. Their actions also lead to the protection of the flow of the Talomo River which recharges the Dumoy Aquifer- the present source of Davao City’s water.
Recognition and Success
In 2010, two years after WMYC’s crusade began, the City Council of Davao declared that the purposes of potable water will be prioritized in the case of the Tamugan-Panigan River, as opposed to making way for power-generation activities. Such a triumph is one that only bold ones like members of the Watershed Management Youth Council can claim.
Displaying the no less than the TAYO spirit of youth involvement and volunteerism, WMYV continues on with the information, education campaign in order to educate more youth as well as monitors the implementation of the Watershed Code to “ensure water sustainability for the present and future generation.”
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Creating Change Through: The Can-ugkay Community-based Watershed and Habitat Restoration Project
A name like Terrestrial And Aquatic Restorations By Students Immersed In Environmental Reforms or TARSIER would surely spark the interest of many. However, the success of this small school-based organization from the Visayas State University (VSU) was of that of the little-tugboat-that-could, having started with simply the will to help even amidst scant resources.
The Can-ugkay Community-based Watershed and Habitat Restoration Project was conceptualized by former TARSIER president Jihan Santanina Santiago. The project site, the island municipality of Pilar in Cebu, is where Jihan is from. And despite this being far from their home base in Leyte, TARSIER members dedicated their weekends, travelling on land and across the sea to make great things happen.
What’s the Story?
TARSIER’s Can-ugkay Community-based Watershed and Habitat Restoration 
Project is a response to the deteriorating water supply of the Can-ugkay Watershed, which provides water to 1,500 households and plays a key part in keeping ecosystems and biodiversity in place.
Due to the dwindling forest cover and the increase of harmful and unsustainable farming practices such as the slash-and-burn technique, TARSIER members took a stand to believing that “a deep sense of environmentalism is a key to sustainability”. They addressed the lack of alternative sources of income for farmers or fisher folk and worked to counter negative environmental effects through a rehabilitation method called Rainforestation,
The Rainforestation Farming System integrates fruit-bearing trees like Lanzones, Durian, Rambutan and Mangosteen with native trees, resulting in a stable source of income for locals, the safeguarding of biodiversity and the protection of water supply. TARSIER tapped the expertise of the Institute of Tropical Ecology (ITE) of the Visayas State University and garnered the support of Plan International, Villahermosa Barangay Council and the Sangguniang Kabataan.
As local government units supported travel expenses, TARSIER members conducted training on Rainforestation Farming and Environmental Leadership seminars for farmers, youth leaders and high-school students alike. This not only produced a 1-hectar Demonstration Farm with 250 grafted fruit trees and 5,000 indigenous trees but also lead to the establishment of a centralized farmers’ group named the Can-ugkay Rainforestation Farmers’ Association or CaRFA.
Recognition and Success
In October 2009, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the Municipality of Pilar and Visayas State University for TARSIER’s continuing project. And for three consecutive years, TARSIER has been recognized as Best Student Organization.
During the TAYO 8 National Awarding, Team Energy awarded TARSIER 20000 pesos and a computer set-up for their “strength in synergy while demonstrating the power to serve and help build lives to inspire change among the Filipino youth.” Serving both man and nature, it is truly is a monumental achievement for the little-tugboat-that-could.
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