Text by Mary Antoinette M Magallanes | Photos by Omayyah Macabato
Youth leaders, young professionals, social entrepreneurs, educators and students from all over Mindanao gathered during the Find X Project (FXP), a fundraising leadership congress, held at the Lourdes College Auditorium on February 21, Saturday.
The event has provided leaders an avenue for convergence, mentorship and discussion to create and support initiatives in their communities. The FXP, attended in by over 200 participants, was organized by Xavier University, the Acquire Social Ventures Initiatives, Cebu Pacific, Smart, Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, and Happy Soles.
With powerhouse speakers Howie Severino, Meryl Grace Agudelo, Naderev Madla Saño, Marita Ann Enriquez and Sabrina Ongkiko, the program highlighted the five thematic areas for discussion: social media, disaster risk reduction, social entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, and education.
Multi-awarded journalist Howie Severino talked about the social media as a tool for youth activism and the power of citizen journalism in society.
“There is so much power in the crowd,” Severino said, emphasizing the potential of the youth, “you belong to the most empowered generation in history.”
Kape’t Guro head and public school teacher Sabrina Ongkiko, on the other hand, stressed the role of young leaders in advancing public education in the country.
”We have to work together. Hindi natin gustong magpakabayani lamang, ang bigat n'on eh. Dapat sama-sama tayo nanangangarap, na tumutugon sa pangangailangan, nabibigayan ng ginagalawan at naniniwala para sa ating bayan (We don't just want to be heroes, that is difficult. We need to be together in dreaming, in addressing the needs, in giving out roles and having faith for our nation)."
Other top notch speakers are Climate Change Commissioner Naderev Saño who discussed about “The Youth in Resiliency, Reconstruction, and Recovery Process”, and executive director of ICAN Make a Difference Inc, Meryl Agudelo who talked about the “Meaningful Engagement of Youth Leaders in Nation Building.” Marita Ann Enriquez, founder of Gouache Bags in Marikina City, also imparted her journey from being a typicalbag-seller who wanted to earn money to becoming a social entrepreneur who now yearns to help her people with the revenue of their company.
Aside from the plenary session, the event also included small group workshops allowing leaders to deepen their understanding of issues, consolidate ideas to align efforts and create concrete solutions.
The workshop facilitators include Ernesto Neri of the Oro Youth Development Council, Princess Ubay-ubay of Knots and Woods and Dr Edralin Manla and Ryan Louie Madrid of XU.
The breakout sessions also tackled the youth’s roles in various social situations in line with the five thematic areas.
The workshops also served as ways to promote collaboration between youth leaders as they are able to present existing projects and ideas to forge potential partnership.
Aside from inspiring leaders to converge and create solutions to social issues, the Find X Project was aimed at generating funds for the construction of a community pathway and the building of eleven boats needed for the livelihood of fisher folks and transportation of elementary and high school students in Puntabon, Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City.