Forty-two Sangguniang Kabataan Federation officers of Mandaue City sharpened their leadership skills through the three-day Kool Adventure Camp at the Girl Scout of the Philippines Camp in barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
The leadership program taught the participants self-awareness, self-confidence, “playing to win,” teamwork, balance, coordination, concentration and trust.
“Playing to win is about playing to win not only for our group but for all of us, even for others who are not part of our group. It does not matter who our groupmates are. As long as we have one goal, we should help each other. I learned from KAC facilitators that if we want to run faster, we run alone, but if we want to run far, we run together,” said Sheila Mae Ceniza, SK councilor of barangay Mantuyong.
The program also featured Challenge Ropes Course where participants conquered the high elements — Climbing Wall, High Y, and Pamper Pole — at a height of twelve feet or higher. High elements, which require a safety mechanism called belay, produce powerful memories and provoke deep thoughts and emotions, while challenging physical abilities.
Alyssa Tenchavez, SK chairman of barangay Basak, said being a negative thinker is something she wanted to change after going through the three high elements or the so-called “dragons.”
She added that to conquer the challenges, one should have trust and self-confidence and works well with his or her team. When asked about her dragons in real life, Tenchavez identified among them her being the SK chairman in her barangay since she is a newly elected officer from the opposition party.
Integration activities, goal setting, and recognition of accomplishments were done on the third day of the leadership camp wherein participants came up with a goal for their community and recognized their responsibility in its realization.
The Kool Adventure Camp is an adventure-based education program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI). This is the second year that the Mandaue City government sent its young leaders to KAC for training.
The officers came from barangays Alang-alang, Bakilid, Banilad, Basak, Cabancalan, Casili, Casuntingan, Centro, Cubacub, Guizo, Ibabao, Jagobiao, Looc, Mantuyong, Pakna-an, Pagsabungan, Subangdaku, Tingub, Tipolo and Umapad.
For more information about KAC, call 418-7234 local 407 and look for Althea May Santillan or e-mail at althea.santillan@rafi.org.ph, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph.