PHILIPPINES

LGU Del Carmen’s Youth CORE Summit Sparks Leadership

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) Philippines has continued its partnership with the local government of Del Carmen in Siargao, Surigao del Norte, this year, focusing on the empowerment of the youth through leadership and entrepreneurship initiatives. One of the key projects under this collaboration is the Youth CORE (Champion Organizations in Revolutionizing Entrepreneurship) Summit, which aims to support and mentor young participants in developing business project proposals.

The Youth CORE Summit serves as a platform to help participants conceptualize and refine their entrepreneurial ideas, offering mentoring and coaching to enhance their proposals. The program provides valuable exposure to various activities and training that aim to boost youth entrepreneurship and leadership skills. By engaging local youth, especially those from the barangays and schools of Del Carmen, the initiative seeks to nurture future leaders and entrepreneurs from the grassroots level.

Held over three days from August 19 to 20, and August 27, 2024, the summit brought together around 80 participants. They took part in five workshops aimed at honing their skills, with a particular focus on Circular Economy Skills Training, which included sessions on sewing and woodworking. These workshops were designed to inspire the youth participants to develop business ideas that align with sustainable practices in the circular economy.

The first day of the summit featured workshops led by experts such as Mr. Jerry B. Salino Jr., Engr. Princess Zyrlyn Mordeno, and Ms. Jonarha L. Arong. All three are affiliated with the Surigao del Norte State University and the Department of Science and Technology's WAVES Technology Business Incubator (TBI), which specializes in entrepreneurship and startup businesses. Their sessions focused on ideation, design thinking, and startup basics, offering the participants practical tools for launching their own ventures.

On the second day, the focus shifted to hands-on Circular Economy Skills Training. Youth participants learned to create eco-friendly products such as textile eco-bags, cloth diapers, and refurbished wooden furniture. The workshops were conducted by Ms. Riolanda Llaga and Mr. Hilario Garcia Jr., both of whom were contracted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The UNDP also provided the sewing kits and construction tools used during the sessions. Participants produced items such as cloth diapers, napkins, eco-bags, as well as wooden plant stands, phone holders, and other creative wooden products.

The third day of the summit began with a welcome message from Del Carmen’s Municipal Mayor, Alfredo M. Coro II, who emphasized the importance of youth entrepreneurship, particularly in light of global crises. Mayor Coro encouraged the participants to make use of the abundant local resources in Del Carmen, a popular tourist destination in Siargao. An inspirational address from Dr. Almunt of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation followed which reinforced the significance of youth-driven change.

The day also featured pitch training conducted by the WAVES TBI team, preparing participants for the business proposal pitching contest. During the afternoon session, the youth groups presented their proposals in a timed "elevator pitch" format, limited to just three minutes per group. The WAVES TBI team served as judges for the competition. Out of 18 youth groups, three emerged as standout performers, demonstrating exceptional business ideas and presentations.

The Youth CORE project is a key component of the Del Carmen Local Government Unit's strategy to develop youth leadership and entrepreneurship. This initiative coincides with FNF Philippines' commitment to fostering youth development and equipping the next generation with the skills needed to drive positive change in their communities.

This article is written by Pie Escobar, the Communication Officer for the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Philippine Office