Mendez, Cavite, July 24 - Seventeen (17) youth leaders of San Pedro, Laguna completed their three-day training on SK leadership and governance from July 21 to 23, 2023 with Kaya Natin Youth - San Pedro, Hirayang Kabataan, and INCITEGov. The seminar, held in CADIPSA Center in Mendez, Cavite on July 21 to 23, aimed to support a new generation of leaders that are strongly grounded on democratic politics and good governance.

The training used the modules of Tara Takbo!, a youth development program which aims to develop youth candidates for people-powered campaigns in their locality. Atty. Carlo Africa, executive director of Hirayang Kabataan and one of the implementers of Tara Takbo! said that the program hoped to capacitate young leaders on basic electoral politics and alternative campaigning which draws multi-stakeholder support and mentoring systems from local and national actors.

On the first day, July 21, aspiring chair and council members of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) from various barangays of San Pedro participated in group exercises that introduced the roles and duties of SK elected officers, as well as the functions of local youth development bodies.

Other sessions focused on exploring each participant's leadership journeys and styles and determining contrasts between patronage and alternative politics.

The day ended with a group activity that emphasized solidarity when drawing moral and ethical lines in public service.

On the second day, July 22, the training provided the participants with hands-on experience in consulting the community on their needs and aspirations. Participants conducted a house-to-house visit and interviewed community members. They crafted solutions and formed youth development agendas based on the information gathered from the community consultations.

The last day of the training revolved on honing the participants' communication and public speaking skills. They crafted and presented their campaign speeches grounded on addressing community needs in concrete and measurable terms.

Sam Cuevas, chair of Kaya Natin Youth- San Pedro expressed hope for an inspired youth from her hometown able to actively engage in movement-based local politics as a result of the training.

"We will follow this through with a training on crafting a youth development agenda called LegisLahok. I hope we can get more young people to participate in this so they will get to know the various platforms for political participation within the formal governance structures." Cuevas added. #