Youth invited to join leadership program

Now on its 7th season, Young Minds Academy (YMA) has opened its doors once again to youth aged 12-20 years old who will join the leadership and citizenship development training program.

The program launching and orientation was held last Jan. 26 at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center on Lopez Jaena Street, Cebu City.

“In Young Minds Academy (YMA), responsibility and perseverance are keys to success. This is no place for suway-suway (trial). This is not a place for people who cannot complete a task. Here, we value both talent and responsibility. Talent may get you in YMA. But to succeed, you need to couple talent with responsibility,” Evelyn Nacario-Castro, executive director of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center (EADSC), said in her speech during the launching.

Since its inception in 2006, YMA has already trained 565 young individuals towards enhanced competence, strengthened character and active citizenship engagement.

For YMA Season 7, the theme is “Urban Development” in support of the Mega Cebu program and framework for long-term and collaborative planning and action towards a more livable and sustainable city-region.

CHALLENGE

“To our interested youth, expect that YMA will be fun and insightful, but not be easy. But as long as you continue to take the challenge, focus on your goals, and hold on to your desire of serving others and making a difference, your journey with us will truly be meaningful and, hopefully, life-changing,” said Dominica Chua, chief operating officer of RAFI.

Interested applicants must form a group of five under the two categories: Generation A (17–20 years old) and Generation B (12-16 years old).

The list of requirements and application forms may be downloaded from www.rafi.org.ph/leadership-citizenship/young-minds-academy.

The deadline of application is Feb. 25.

For more information, call Mel Yan at 4187234 local 110 or e-mail at [email protected].