ABOUT

Voice of the Youth is a youth network aiming to inform through its advocacy which is to encourage youth to take control of life situations while building self-esteem and improving the quality of life for themselves and for the community. VOTY is composed of young and talented leaders aging from 15-35 years old who are dedicated in empowering youth.

VOTY members are dedicated to serve and present their talents to young Filipinos to promote youth participation and development through leadership, advocacy and education.

Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales founded Voice of the Youth  in 1996 when he became one of the champion of a voice acting and dubbing competition on a radio program known as Radyo-Radyo, TINIG KABATAAN (Voice of the Youth) . VOTY founder had his first radio youth programs, Radyo-Radyo and Awit-Tawanan. Awit-Tawanan aired over at DZMM 630 KHZ every Sunday, 10 – 12nn from October 1996 to December 2000. Then Sey Mo, Sey Ko hit the airwaves on DZRH 666 Khz from March 2001 to March 2002.

VOTY then organized Youth Empowerment Project which is created to serve a thousand children and youth of Metro Manila from 1997 to 2000. In the short existence of the project, it has easily made an impact to the community. Members have been invited to present from local to international conferences and also, have been featured on national television and radio programs, newspapers, school and other community events.

TINIG KABATAAN members developed and maintained a website, http://geocities.com/tinigkabataan/voty.  For 2003-2004, these are the goals of Youth Empowerment Project:

Continue improving educational opportunities for talented children and youth

Provide leadership opportunities to VOTY members

Increase community education for youth

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VOICE OF THE YOUTH NETWORK is a national youth network in the Philippines. Led by youth, empowered by technology, VOTY Network is one of the major projects of TINIG KABATAAN in December 2002. VOTY Network brings together young people in more than 78 provinces in the Philippines to collaborate on concrete projects addressing national problems and creating positive change.

What is Voice of the Youth Network?

·         A Network of youth, organizations, mentors, and initiatives working towards common goals

·         A Community of young people who are making a difference locally and globally

·         An Enabler for ideas to grow and change to take place

·         A Resource of opportunities

·         A Platform for expression

·         A Forum for participation

·         A Concept that revolves around

Voice of the Youth Network provides young people:

·         inspiration to make a difference,

•       information to realize their potential,

•       involvement where their voice counts,

·         opportunities where they translate their ideas into reality; and

·         connection to nationwide and worldwide community

Our Vision:

•         A nation in which young and old people work hand in hand to bridge social, economic and technological division, to dismantle cultural and geographical barriers, and to shape, explore and express lives with meaningful and fulfilling experiences

Our Purpose:

•         To inspire youth to follow their dreams.

•         To inform youth about the wealth of opportunities that surrounds them.

•         To involve youth in online and offline communities where members & mentors contribute to, and•

·         To gain experience from Voice of the Youth while fostering a sense of national and global awareness, collaboration, and leadership.

What Do We Do?

WE:

·         Create a national platform for dialogue, self-expression, community involvement, and cultural exploration to ensure that voices of the youth are heard and  their initiatives are supported and acted upon.

·         Develop and support a peer-to-peer learning environment where youth teach each other through workshops aimed at skill-building, showcasing projects, and creating mentorship relationships among the network.

·         Foster partnerships with like-minded organizations in order to provide access to resources, and utilize our technology platform to increase organizational capacity through information sharing and knowledge networks

We Encourage: Having fun, inducing teamwork, building commitment, sharing of ideas, creating local community initiatives, understanding and expressing oneself, supporting networks, diversifying perspectives, cross- cultural understanding, and connecting people and ideas.

Our Principles:

·         The personal growth of an individual in a team environment is integral to the creation of positive change in the national sphere.

·         The ideas and beliefs of all people are equally valuable in the process of positive change, and are to be respected.

·         The potential of youth to affect positive change is enormous.•

·         The best time to take initiative is NOW.

Why youth participation?

Meaningful youth participation is about recognizing and nurturing strengths, interests, and abilities of young people by providing them with real opportunities to be involved in decisions that can affect them and the community. This kind of participation enhances youth health because it offers young people a chance to develop important decision- making and problem-solving skills, develop meaningful relationships, and bolster self-esteem.

Five Approaches Different Working Approaches 

·         Conventions

·         Consultations

·         Networking

·         Intercultural Experience

·         Multinational Projects ( Most Youth NGOs apply several approaches)

VOTY Network was invited in numerous national conventions such as:

·         2nd National Youth Parliament ( Province of Bataan Representative. Teachers Camp, Baguio City, December 18-21, 1998)

·         4th National Youth Parliament –(Pryce Hotel, Cagayan De Oro City, December 7-11, 2002) with JAKE GALLARDO, ABIGAEL GONZALES,  ANTHONY LORCHA and REDFORD DE QUIROS

·         1st National Youth Summit (PAMBANSANG UGONG NG KABATAAN) ( Malacañang Palace and Corporate Inn, Ermita, Manila, December 10 – 12, 2001)

·         as a delegate at Regional Youth Summit, Pambansang Ugong ng Kabataan, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Regional Office III, DECS Regional Office, Angeles City, Pampanga, September 28-29, 2001

·         as reader and guest at National Day of Prayer and Fasting for Reconciliation, “Youth Prayer on Moral Recovery” Presidential Management Staff, Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila, November 10, 2001

·         as a participant at  An Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) Conference “Moving Forward with National Governance Reforms” Shangri-La Plaza Hotel, Makati City, November 14, 2001

·         as a participant, 10th SSEAYP International, Philippines National Convention, Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program Alumni Association, Philippines, Inc. Naga City, Philippines November 30 – December 2, 2001

·         as a participant, NAPC Youth and Students Sectoral Assembly, Subic International Hotel, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Olongapo City, January 25-27, 2002

·         as a participant, Conference of Youth Leaders, “ Remembering EDSA II” Ateneo Alumni Initiative for National Development, Moro Lorenzo Sports Center, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, February 22 –23, 2002

·         as a participant, LEADERS UNLIMITED, The Aurelio Periquet Jr. Business Leadership Seminar Series “Inspiring Leaders of Tomorrow, Today” UP NISMED-STTC Auditorium, University of the Philippines, Diliman, August 24, 2002

·         as a participant, UP Diliman Student Leaders’ Convention 2002, Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs, Office of Student Activities, Science Teacher Training Center Auditorium, National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, August 23-24, 2002

CONVENTIONS

·         as a participant, Generation Why? Identity of the Youth In the Changing Philippines, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations, Li Seng Giap Auditorium, APEC Communications Building, University of Asia and the Pacific, Pasig City, Philippines, October 12, 2002

·         as a participant, 4th Youth Summit on Human Rights, “Strengthening Youth Leadership for a Sustainable Human Rights Advocacy” Amnesty International, Human Rights Youth Action Network, Brentwood Village, M. Roxas St., Baguio City, October 18-22, 2002

·         CHAIRPERSON OF HUMAN RIGHTS YOUTH ACTION NETWORK: JAKE M. GALLARDO

CONSULTATIONS

·         as a participant, Medium-Term Youth Development Plan (MTYDP) 1999-2004 Briefing/Consultation for Region III, National Youth Commission, Century Resort Hotel, McArthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City, Philippines, November 25, 1999

·         as a participant, NCR Youth Consultation, NYC Conference Room, 4th Floor, Bookman Building, 373 Quezon Ave., Quezon City, June 14, 2002

·         as a participant, NAPC Youth and Students Sectoral Assembly, Subic International Hotel, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Olongapo City, January 25-27, 2002

Recent Forums                                                       

·         as a student coordinator and secretariat, Asian Film Forum Manila 2003, “Evolving Realities in Asian Cinema” The UP College of Mass Communication and Japanese Foundation, EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Philippines, January 7-9, 2003

·         as youth speaker, Youth Speak Series, ”Pinas, Sa Pananaw ng Kabataan”, Asian Social Institute and Kilusan para sa Kinabukasan ng Kabataan, Francis Senden Hall, Asian Social Institute, Manila, February 1, 2003

·         as a facilitator, YES PEACE 2003! (Youth Empowerment Summit for Peace 1) “Towards a Global Movement for a Culture of Peace” UNESCO ASPnet, Aksyon Kabataan and Mendiola Consortium – CSA, San Beda College Auditorium, February 6-8, 2003

Networking

·         Morse Flores, a founding member of VOTY Network was the delegate of the Philippines for International Youth Parliament Network (www.iyp.oxfam.org) First Session: Sydney, 2000 • 350 delegates from all over the globe à Social Action Partners • Individual Action Plans à local level • Network provides Help, Skills, Funding

NATIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

·         National Youth Commission

·         UNESCO Club of Metro Manila,

·         Youth for United Nations

·         ,U.P. Graduate Studies Association, College of Mass Communication

·         KaBATAAN “Bataan Youth Society”

·         Katipunan Jaycees, Juniour Chamber of Commerce

·         Pambansang Ugong ng Kabataan,

·         SSEAYP International Philippines,

·         U.P. Ugnayan ng Pahinungod,

·         Speech Communication Society, University of the Philippines, Diliman

·         ,Kathalad, Kathang Inilahad, University of the Philippines, Diliman,

·         U.P. Tangway (Bataan), University of the PhilippinesMember,

·         U.P. Peer Councelors Society,

·         Pi Sigma Fraternity, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City

·         ABS-CBN Foundation (Bantay Kalikasan and Bantay Bata)

INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

·         International Youth Parliament – Oxfam•

·         World Assembly of Youth•

·         ASEAN Foundation•

·         Peace Child International

·         •Global Youth Action Network•

·         UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEERS•

·         Advocates for Youth – www.rightsrespectresponsibility.org•

·         Habitat for Humanity•

·         International Youth Exchange Organization – Tokyo, Japan

·         •Korean National Commission for UNESCO

·         •Featured in http://www.youthactionnet.org “international youth leaders profile” and www.takingitglobal.org

Networking Characteristics:

·         Open Participation

·         Multimedial, Internet-based cooperation Internet

·         Low Hierarchy

·         Longterm connections to events and organizations

INTERCULTURAL EXPERIENCE

·         as participating youth, 27th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program, ASEAN Countries and Japan October 24 to December 15, 2000

·         as Philippine Delegate, 37th International Youth Camp, “You Can Make A Difference” Youth Unit, Korean National Commission for UNESCO, Korea UNESCO Culture Center, Seoul, South Korea, Busan and Woopo Wetland, Kyongsang Namdo, South Korea, July 14-27, 2002

·         as speaker, ASEAN Student Leaders’ Summit 2002, “Developing Student Leaders Towards a Century of Peace and Humanity”, Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific and Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Angeles University, Philippines, December 11-14, 2002

·         as co-convenor, facilitator and host, 3rd International Youth Conference, “Youth Leadership for Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development” Youth Leaders Conference, Sponsoring Organization: UNESCO ASPnet, UNAP, PNU, Audio-Visual Theatre, Philippine Normal University, August 12-14, 2002

·         as a participant, 3rd APEC Future Leaders’ Forum “Corporate Citizenship: Doing Well by Doing Good” APEC Communications Building, University of Asia and the Pacific, Pasig City and Subic Bay, Zambales City, November 13-16, 2001

·         as a participant, 4th International Youth Leadership Conference, “Cross-Cultural Exchange of Young Ideas Concerning the Future of World Leadership” Civic concepts International, Czech University of Agriculture, Prague 6, Suchdol, Czech Republic, January 5-10, 2003

·         as a participant, 3rd Asian Youth Forum, “The Roles and Capabilities of the Asian Youth Leaders in Achieving a Region-wide Sustainable Growth and Development” Pan-Asian Consortium (PAC),Taipei, Taiwan, November 8-11, 2002

·         as a participant, Students’ Forum, ”Citizenship and Participation in the Globalising World” Students’ Forum 2000, Vilemov Castle and Prague, Czech Republic, October 26– 31, 2002

·         as a participant, Melaka International Youth Dialogue, “Action for Youth Employment” World Assembly of Youth, Equatorial Melaka Hotel, Melaka, Malaysia, July 29 – August 1, 2002

as Philippine Delegate, 6th Arirang Youth Camp, “We Can Share Our Differences” Youth Unit, Korean National Commission for UNESCO and Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Korea UNESCO Culture Center, Seoul, South Korea and Namwon, Jeollabukdo Province, Republic of Korea, August 8-11, 2002