Y Acts! Youth Festival 2008!

This Festival is an advance from the 1st Youth Festival 2006, which had the theme, “Weaving Responsibilities to Face the Challenges of the Times.” Held last December 1-3, 2006 at Kaytikling, Taytay, the event was attended by 79 young people from all over the Philippines aged 14-27, most of whom come from underprivileged sectors of society. Sub-themes included environment, peace, human rights, identity, gender, and education. The formulation of a Youth Covenant on Responsibilities culminated the three-day event.

The general objective of Y Acts! Youth Festival 2008! is to encourage young people to engage in responsible activities for the betterment of their community, society, and our environment. The specific objectives are:

1. To recognize initiatives undertaken by youth organizations in exercising responsibilities for the common good.
2. To develop the leadership capacities of the youth through inter-cultural exchange and discussions on important issues affecting young people.
3. To promote the Charter of Human Responsibilities and the Youth Covenant on Responsibilities.
4. To develop a network of young people actively sharing with each other and learning from each other not only during the course of the Festival but also after.

The Youth Festival 2008 to be held in May 2008 in Baguio City shall showcase best practices among young programs that demonstrate how the youth exercise responsibilities for the environment, to promote peace and rights, defining and upholding identity, gender, and culture, and advocating education for all. Aside from the exhibit, the festival shall feature sharing and discussion sessions, cultural exchanges, and leadership and team-building activities. It will culminate in a concert for the young people.

A panel of respectable and responsible professionals is tasked to identify the participants from organizations who submit entries to the Festival. This is composed of:

 Ms. Amihan Abueva
° Coordinator for Southeast Asia, Asia ACTS against Child Trafficking
° ECPAT International Board Chair
° Coordinator, ECPAT International-Philippines

 Ms. Aleli Bawagan
° Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, University of the Philippines
° Immediate Past Philippine Coordinator, Terre des Hommes
° Former Executive Director, OTRADEV Foundation
° PhD in Education Anthropology, University of the Philippines (working on dissertation)

 Ms. Feny delos Angeles-Bautista
° Executive Director, Community of Learners Foundation
° Specialist in Early Childhood Development
° Former TV Producer, Batibot

 Mr. Ruben Martinez
° Consultant, GIAI South
° Consultant, Terra Beijing
° Asian Development Bank Environment Specialist
° Former Professor, Dela Salle University
° PhD in Anthropology, University of the Philippines

 Ms. Grace Nono
° Executive Director, Tao Foundation
° Specialist in Philippine Oral Tradition and Indigenous Culture
° Graduate of Master in Arts in Philippine Studies, University of the Philippines
° Cultural Artist

 Ms. Luz Lopez-Rodriguez
° Executive Director, UNIFEM
° Former Executive Director, Galing Pook Movement
° Former Professor, University of the Philippines-Iloilo and College of Social Work and Community Development, UP-Diliman
° Graduate of Master of Arts in Social Work

 Ms. Evelyn Balais-Serrano
° Asia-Pacific Coordinator, International Criminal Court
° Specialist in Human Rights
° Former Coordinator, Forum-Asia
° Former Executive Director, Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates
° Graduate of Master of Arts in Human Rights, Thailand