RAFI, 10 partners back Young Minds Academy

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) entered into an agreement with six civil society organizations and four local government units for Young Minds Academy (YMA) Season 5, RAFI’s youth leadership and citizenship development program.

The agreement was signed together with the YMA scholars last Aug. 2 at the Bryant George Hall of the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center (EADSC) of RAFI.

Among the project partners are the Fellowship for Organizing Endeavors Inc., Philippine Business for Social Progress, Gawad Kalinga, Mag-uugmad Foundation Inc., Kadasig Parents Association Inc., Lihok Pilipina Foundation Inc., Cebu City and the municipalities of Consolacion, Liloan and Cordova.

These project partners will guide the different teams of YMA scholars in developing a community project and will serve as co-implementing partner should the project of their assigned team qualify for funding.

RAFI may directly co-implement some of the qualified projects through its Integrated Development unit and RAFI Micro-finance.

Since last March, the scholars underwent learning sessions on character and leadership building, creative thinking, social development, research, participatory project development, thematic input sessions, community exposures and immersion.

Each team of scholars was assigned to develop a project addressing issues and concerns related to poverty and social welfare, the season 5 theme.

The project sites were identified by the project partners.

“As we upscale and innovate in YMA, we also make the engagement of our partners more meaningful,” said Evelyn Nacario-Castro, executive director of EADSC.

This is the first time that RAFI engaged project partners in the entire project development process of the YMA scholars.

The project partners will also manage the grant of P100,000 that RAFI will give to qualified projects.

YMA, run by EADSC, is sponsored by City Savings Bank and UnionBank of the Philippines.

For more information about YMA, contact 418-7234 local 110 and look for Mel Yan.