Recognizing the potential of the youth to lead the progress in communities, the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership in partnership with the Quezon City local government and SEAOIL Foundation launched “Tayo Tayo”, a city-wide youth innovation grant program.
200 youth-based organizations, QC barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials, and student councils attended the launching of “Tayo Tayo” at the QC Experience last November 6.
Kaya Natin! Lead Convener and Board Member Harvey Keh hope that the program will inspire young people to be at the forefront of community development by creating and implementing their own projects.
“We hope that through this project, the youth of Quezon City will realize that there is an avenue where they can channel their passion and energy into actionable projects that will allow them to contribute to their communities,” Keh said.
For Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, the grant-giving program is a huge opportunity for the youngbloods to solve the problems in their communities.
“We encourage you to join and take the lead in community building. If your community is facing a pressing challenge you know you can solve, then now’s the chance to take it into your hands,” Belmonte said.
The city mayor added that age doesn’t matter in solving community problems.
“‘Wag niyo isiping bata pa kayo o bata lang kayo. You can change the world any day,” Belmonte said.
SEAOIL Foundation’s Government Relations Supervisor Marco Javelosa reiterates their organization’s commitment in helping youth organizations through programs like Tayo Tayo.
“SEAOIL fully supports youth organizations that showcase such innovation towards projects that will respond to the needs of their respective communities,” Javelosa said.
Javelosa added that SEAOIL believes in the creativity and uniqueness of the Filipino youth.
“There is no shortage in the Filipino youth of sparks of creativity and uniqueness to fuel fresh ideas that have the potential to inspire.”
The grant-giving program is looking for youth leaders and youth organizations based in Quezon City who has a fresh take on issues that surround them and are ready to take the lead through youth-led community projects.
For its first year, Tayo Tayo will choose ten (10) grant recipients who will receive Php 30,000 to Php 50,000 each, depending on the scale of the project.
The project must be led and created by individuals and/or groups composed of QC youth residents aged 16 to 23 years old.
The proposals must be related to any of the following: access to quality, basic education; empowerment of marginalized sectors; improvement of public health; increased youth participation in governance; gender equality; and protection and preservation of the environment.
A proposal template is accessible at bit.ly/TayoTayo2019. The deadline for submission will be on November 30, 2019. The proposals will be sent to youth.kayanatin@gmail.com
The announcement of proposals eligible for panel interview will be on December 16, 2019.