With their creative approach to change-making and a passion to make a difference, the youth are certainly the future. This Youth Leadership Month, take a look at how these five youth-led organizations strive to raise awareness and initiate change in their various advocacies.
The Initiative PH
Facebook: The Initiative PH
“It was not enough to give people things and talk to them about their issues, so we went bottom-up, working with the grassroots, enabling our partner communities to chase social change in their own right.”
Launched in 2016 by a group of De La Salle University Senior High School students, this organization coordinates relief efforts for communities struggling with poverty, calamity, and conflict. Their belief in the youth’s power to bring about social change inspired them to spearhead initiatives that aid vulnerable communities and promote youth volunteerism. They quickly respond to emerging national problems through concrete, organized action, as seen in their various ongoing projects, such as Project Lumad, Project WISH, and Project Isip.
Amarela PH
Facebook: Amarela PH
“You have to constantly choose to be and do better every day, for you, those you lead, and the advocacy you campaign on behalf of. Every step and decision we make contributes to something bigger than ourselves.”
Built on a desire to promote discourse on sexual education and reproductive health, the founding members of Amarela wanted to evoke hope in Filipino women by helping them gain access to better reproductive and sexual healthcare. The organization also advocates for better sexual education and women empowerment. Since their launch in 2019, Amarela has continuously spearheaded various events and initiatives, such as AmaRelief, Amarela Asks 100, and Amarela Talks.
Kids for Kids PH
Facebook: Kids for Kids PH
“We will continue to hope for the best, try to lessen the world’s sorrow, because we believe that the youth today can be the change the world needs tomorrow.”
You may have seen this organization’s empowering, eye-catching infographics circulating on Facebook and Instagram. Founded in 2015 by Natasha and Isabella Tanjutco, Kids for Kids has gathered a massive following, and is motivated by their mission “to empower the youth, to empower the nation”. Despite the pandemic limiting their social engagement projects, they’ve continued to create educational content, provide timely news, hold relief operations, and empower the youth to be “Peacemakers, Worldshapers, and Change-makers”
The Butterfly Effect PH
Facebook: The Butterfly Effect PH
“Even the smallest acts of leadership are valued and can definitely engender a great difference in the social sphere.”
The Butterfly Effect believes that any act of human service, no matter how small, can create a ripple effect towards positive social change. This organization focuses on being a reliable source of current information, creating initiatives for community development, and working towards poverty alleviation. Their efforts have benefited jeepney drivers, farmers, and urban poor families. They’ve also used their platform to educate their followers on national issues, share research on current social concerns, and raise awareness about indigenous groups in the country.
Kinaiya PH
Facebook: Kinaiya PH
“The youth’s voices and involvement allow positive social change to fill the gaps in society. It is high time that we play our role in building a future with no mental health stigma.”
Defined as “all the good attributes and complexities that make up an individual”, the concept of “Kinaiya” is what this organization celebrates. Kinaiya PH envisions to create a safe space for the Filipino youth to experience healing and self-acceptance by promoting mental health awareness and breaking the societal stigma attached to it. The organization explores mental issues through its media portrayals, provides therapeutic playlists, shares educational resources, and gives relevant advice on supporting loved ones suffering from mental illness.
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