Youth camp highlights backpacking challenge

The Kool Adventure Camp (KAC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. conducted a back-to-back urban backpacking challenge for the grades 4 to 6 student leaders from Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and the Dutch and Belgian youth delegates of the Multi-city Youth eXchange (MYX) program.

The participants of the backpacking challenge walked through various parts of Cebu City to understand and appreciate the culture, history and people of the community.

The backpacking challenge aimed to develop a sense of servant leadership based on the Ignatian core values.

The participants went to the Heritage of Cebu Monument to learn about Cebuano heroes and events that helped shape the history of Cebu and Colon Street.

They also danced the sinug while offering prayers for their loved ones at the Magellan’s Cross and traced the roots of the influence of the Jesuits in Cebu at the Museo Parian sa Sugbo.

They also visited places like the Cebu City Hall to find out the services of the local government unit, Taboan Market where they learned how to make puso (hanging rice), Freedom Park and Carbon Market where they prepared a menu of three meals for a family of 10 using a P285 budget.

They were also tasked to transect walk at the Asiatown I.T. Park in Apas, Cebu City to compare the downtown area with the newly established commercial district.

Another activity that brought the participants out of their comfort zones was the experience of sleeping at the Fuente Circle where they set up their temporary shelter.

The delegation from the Netherlands and Belgium through the MYX program of the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center of RAFI had their similar backpacking challenge in Cebu City.

A special feature for their challenge was a visit to the Fort San Pedro, instead of the Museo Parian sa Sugbo.

KAC is currently building the Philippines First Outdoor Experiential Center in barangay Cansomoroy, Balamban town, southwestern Cebu, which is set to open in 2012.

For more information about KAC, contact 418-7234 local 207 and look for Althea Santillan or visit www.rafi.org.ph.