YMA Scholars Participate in City Walk

To gain relevant community exposures that will provide valuable insights on this season’s theme, urban development, scholars of Young Minds Academy (YMA) Season 7 of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI)-Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center (EADSC) participated in a Social Discovery Walk facilitated by RAFI’s Kool Adventure Camp (KAC).

Eighty-seven scholars were divided into six teams, who accomplished challenge tasks in six destinations, namely, Cebu Normal University (CNU), Cebu IT Park, Archival’s Eco House, Carbon Public Market, Museo Sugbo, and the Children of Cebu Foundation Inc.

The teams were asked to count all establishments along Osmeña Boulevard and Cebu IT Park. At the Archival’s Eco House, they were made to list all recyclable wastes. With Php 305, they bought grocery items for a family of 12 at the Carbon Public Market. They then headed to Museo Sugbo to design a historical timeline. The scholars reached the last leg at the Children of Cebu Foundation Inc.

The scholars were also given a chance to share what they learned from the Social Discovery Walk.

This year’s batch of YMA scholars was officially announced during the Covenant Signing at the Eduardo Aboitiz Hall of RAFI-EADSC Building. Emerging leaders aged 13 to 20 years old will begin their eight-month leadership and citizenship program this summer. This will include awareness-raising, experiential education, immersion, and open discourse on the dynamics and challenges facing the community, especially the 13 cities and municipalities comprising Metro Cebu. The scholars’ final output is to generate ideas and possible solutions through a team project that they could implement in partnership with the said local government units.

YMA is a program of RAFI-EADSC under the Leadership & Citizenship focus area, which aims to groom future leaders and influences in a community that is ready to effect change. Other focus areas of RAFI are Integrated Development, Microfinance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and Education.

For more information about YMA, contact Mel Yan at 418-7234 loc 110, or visit www.rafi.org.ph/leadership-citizenship/young-minds-academy/ or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph, or follow @rafiorgph on Twitter. (by Aljon A. Azote/RAFI-EADSC intern)