KIYO Philippines Launches National Youth Advisory Board

The Youth Advisory Board gives youth a voice

Baguio City, November 18, 2023 – In a momentous event during the Solidarity Night of Panagtipun: Regional Youth Leaders' Summit organised by KIYO’s youth-led partner the Cordilleran Youth Center (CYC), KIYO Philippines proudly announced the formation of its National Youth Advisory Board (NYAB). The inauguration ceremony took place in Baguio City, where young leaders gathered to tackle pressing issues facing the youth in the Cordilleras and to craft a regional advocacy plan in the lines of education, human rights, diversity, and environment.

7 youth members of the NYAB posing and smiling.
From left to right: RVJ Gatchalian, Christian Dublado, Abi Taningco, Raven Mensenas, Marie Aeonjhielle Aromin, Sabrina Labitan, Leinard Borreo

The inception of this National Youth Advisory Board stems from the experience and inspiration drawn from the Global Youth Sounding Board (GYSB), a platform initiated by KIYO in 2021 that facilitated the exchange of ideas and experiences among youth leaders across its different country offices. Moving forward, there will be one National Youth Advisory Board per KIYO country office and some representatives will form part of the International Youth Advisory Board, which will interact with KIYO’s Governance Board in the future.

Specific angle

Through the NYAB, KIYO ensures that the voices of youth are taken into account in its programmes and governance structures. This way, KIYO guarantees youth participation in the decision-making processes of the organisation. Likewise, the NYAB makes KIYO more dynamic and “youth-driven”, having a direct discussion with the youth on their evolving contexts, views or perspectives, priorities, among others. This operationalises KIYO’s belief that the youth should be the beating heart of the organisation. 

Composition

The NYAB in the Philippines is composed of seven dynamic youth leaders, each bringing a unique perspective to the table. Two youth leaders hail from each of KIYO Philippines' partner organisations namely: Bidlisiw Foundation, Cordilleran Youth Center (CYC), and the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA). Additionally, a young leader from Mindanao was selected through a nationwide call for applications initiated by KIYO Philippines, ensuring a diverse and inclusive representation of the Filipino youth.

Empowering Youth Together Globally!

Members of KIYO PH NYAB were introduced to the youth summit audience, each selected for their leadership skills, commitment to youth empowerment, and passion for making a positive difference in society. Their diverse backgrounds and experiences reflect the richness of the Filipino youth, ensuring a well-rounded advisory board that can:

  1. Serve as an adviser to the Philippines country office, providing valuable recommendations on various KIYO themes that may influence programmatic decisions and strategic directions
  2. Serve as an external spokesperson or ambassador, thereby elevating the organisation's profile and impact in the development sector
  3. Champion specific agendas or themes of KIYO such as global and community citizenship, contributing to the organisation's objectives and providing a direct source of inspiration for other youth to emulate.

During the launch, the members of KIYO PH NYAB took an oath facilitated by KIYO Philippines’ Country Representative, Mr. Philip Felipe. As an expression of commitment by the NYAB members, they showcased a youthful dance performance, signifying their readiness to take on their challenging and exciting roles as advisory board.

To conclude the launch, Mélodie Arts, one of KIYO’s co-directors, delivered an inspirational call for solidarity video message addressed to KIYO PH NYAB and to the participants of the youth summit.

Marie smiling at camera

"Growing up, I thought that my only purpose in life was to graduate from college, find a decent job, earn stable money to survive, and support my family. As I got involved in many activities about leadership, community building, and artistic expression, I realized that I have a bigger mission in life, and that is to be a contributor to every youth’s dream. As a theater student-artist, I believe that I can share the knowledge that I gained from different experiences in my life, like workshops for theater and leadership, to make a greater change in the lives of every child here in our country."

"The National Youth Advisory Board is a big platform to identify the needs and issues of every youth in the Philippines, so I am expecting that gradually we will contribute to community building and empower greater numbers of youth to achieve a better and wiser future, not just in the Theater Arts chapter but in all different youth sectors.”

- Marie Aeonjhielle Aromin, KIYO PHI NYAB secretary - theater arts chapter of Tanghalang Bulihan, under the Philippine Education Theater Association (PETA)

Staying true and committed to its mission, the formation of NYAB marks a new chapter and a milestone in KIYO's journey of #EmpoweringYouthTogetherGlobally !