There is no time for hanging up or not speaking in this life. In a greater sense, we have a responsibility to take action against underprivileged communities. Some of us know how it feels when that help is so far out of sight, and we almost lose the will to live. And with the problems that our country is facing every day, we, the youth, must do something about it.
There are numerous youth who want to contribute to the community but don’t know how and when to start. How? Take a wider and broader view of the world — there, in the outskirts of society, you can see what needs to be addressed. When? Now. At times like this, when our humanity is put to the test, we are urged to lend our helping hands because society needs us more than ever. We can contribute something in simple to great ways — be it in the form of either cash or goods donations to keep these families sustained and even words of encouragement or morale-boosting.
Pantawid Covid Project
Pantawid Covid Project is a youth-led crowdfunding initiative that aims to provide aid or “pantawid” to vulnerable families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines founded by Patrick Manuel. The organization raised over 2 million pesos, helped 8,000 families, assisted 42,500 individuals, and donated 1,300 pieces of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in 12 hospitals.
In addition, they had a fund-raising concert with some of the finest artists and bands in the country such as the Ryan Cayabyab Singers, Bukas Palad, and Ben & Ben. Because of their impact on the community, the organization became a national winner in the Be Like Jesse Youth Grant Competition and a national finalist in the Ten Accomplished Youth Organization in the Philippines.
Kapit Pinas
Kapit Pinas is a youth-led and volunteer-driven social media Bayanihan group that began as Kapit Mindanao founded by Meryl Hilda, intending to assist the people in the southern region of the Philippines during COVID-19. Kapit Mindanao was established in response to the urgent need to help the people of Mindanao who were in desperate need after the typhoons Ulysses, Rolly, and Quinta, and renamed Kapit Pinas a year later.
The organization raised 20 million pesos and helped hundreds of communities across the country. Millennials PH is the national winner of the 2020 Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Foundation through their Kapit-Mindanao movement. Even though the COVID-19 response program for 20 Mindanao towns came to an end last year, the team has continued to collaborate on additional youth-focused projects. They have continued to use the platform to support other young organizations, offer mentoring, work on projects together, etc. They hope to serve as a trustworthy path for information about upcoming non-government organizations (NGOs), government, and international possibilities.
LASIWWAI
85 weavers make up the Lake Sebu Indigenous Women Weavers Association, Inc. (LASIWWAI), a non-profit community-based organization founded by Jenite Eko. The group promotes ikat weaving as an essential aspect of indigenous culture as well as a means of subsistence for indigenous women. It is consistent with the goal of giving all T'nalak weavers access to schooling.
It works on two major initiatives, Peace and Multiculturalism, and Poverty Reduction, in an effort to empower women. People may give T'boli women a means of support when buying T'nalak clothing, and offering a T'boli child the chance to get early childhood education. The Lasiwwai Learning Institute is supported by sales of T'nalak clothing in addition to women's empowerment. Every T'boli child's potential is to be developed and realized via a holistic education that instills cultural integrity, leadership, and service to sustainable development.
Collectively, these simple acts of “bayanihan” may contribute to changing the plight of these overlooked sectors in our community. As part of the youth, we are and in the warmth of our privileges, we can always play a significant role in the process of ‘change’ by waking up our minds from this deep slumber and by reminding ourselves of the morals of humanity.