New Blood, New Energy, New Challenges

It has been more than two years since October 19, 2007 when the United Nations Population Fund – Youth Advisory Panel first met and fondly called ourselves “YAP”. It had been more that two years of tears, laughter and strife. For half of us it was just 2 years and for us that were left behind it was a few months more to complete the special task of ushering the new members and teaching them in a couple of month’s time what we have painstakingly learned in a year and few months or so.

Standing on our own two feet is among our many firsts – milestones that crown our lives like diamonds. And theconduct of this year’s second biannual meeting was a baptism of fire with the addition of new family members to complicate our lives. Nonetheless, completing the meeting was a sweet breath of relief that we share with our new members and allies.

In the 525, 600 minutes of 2009, there wasn’t a single minute that I regretted. And it’s simply great to say that a lot of those minutes were ones that I’ve spent with some of the world’s most precious people, people with passion so ardent it overflows and clings on to me. – Rumplestiltskin (b. July 10, 2009)

Yes, the newcomers’ enthusiasm is so contagious as the old members’ passion is so strong it ‘clings’ like deer musk with a fragrance so distinct and strong. In its most rudimentary form it is malodorous yet when mixed with an aroma it becomes a sweet scent of heaven. Now, we have been blessed with so much energy for the seemingly endless tasks ahead.

What I also love best about YAP was the feeling of warmth and security. We empower each other, and bonding moments are never ones to miss. There is this deep sense of connection, of family. I guess this is because in the Panel, our minds don’t only get opened, they get expanded, and we get to understand past the barriers that limit other people’s understanding. Most importantly, we learn to accept every person for his or her uniquely individual identity. Truly, YAP is a beautiful two-way process. UNFPA gets to hear our voices, and we get to hear each other’s voices just as well. – Reverberating R (b. July 10, 2009)

Patience, humility, wisdom and courage – they are ours for the taking. Our talents and skills we will continue to hone, and our knowledge we will continue to grow. All these with our hearts that are ever pure our potentials remain infinite. You will just need to believe in us, in young people – that we are the change we hoped to be.

¿Lovely Lively?
6 January 2010

I AM POSI+IVE!

Positive. “What if you were positive?”

If asked, surely people would try to resist answering such vocal question. If only the whole world knew what’s the most promising definition of “being positive” is!

Last December 4-7 was an eye-opening experience, surely not only for me but for all the other participants who summoned the call for youth empowerment. The four-day activity was an assembly organized by the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) to gather members of both Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) and Y-Peer Pilipinas to discuss issues and to come up with proposed plans and advises regarding youth needs and problems. As a YAFA Volunteer participating in it, the event was filled with meaningful activities and would be very helpful in strengthening our advocacy to STOP HIV/AIDS.

We had a site visit in Olongapo City wherein we visited youth, women, and teen wellness centers, formal and alternative learning schools and discovered how Olongapo has successfully integrated Adolescent Reproductive Health in their programmes and the challenges they are facing. We were also able to meet up with the mayor and other local city officers engaged in implementing its ARH programmes one of which is the passage of its Reproductive Health Ordinance. It proved to all of us that a strong participation coming from local government units and officials can go a long way in providing a better environment for the youth. We also had interactions with several Youth Peer Educators which were one of the city’s successful results of its ARH plans. The use of youth peer educators is one effective way in recognizing youth issues and delivering solutions to its problems. We had discussions about how peer education can be strengthened in the country, and how can it be a more effective and efficient solution in addressing the needs of the youth. Workshops were also conducted to identify each organizations strengths and weaknesses and how can it be changed and improved. There was also action planning and formulation of recommendations which gave emphasis on ARH-oriented plans.

All together, these activities have left on me deep impressions on how youth can be empowered to create a big difference. For every presentation, arguments, and conversations made throughout the meeting, I was asking myself, have I made myself empowered? As youth, we are sometimes generally described as “happy go lucky,” “laki sa layaw” and sometimes ignored by our parents saying “wala pa tayong alam sa buhay.” It may be true, but it may also be not. It actually depends upon us. We are the captain of our own journey and as I believe, tayo pa rin ang pag-asa ng ating bayan. The youth has a lot of responsibility in shaping its own community. In the next few years, we will be our future teachers, engineers, doctors, lawyers, and nation builders. There’s a lot expected from us.

And what could best way to perform our duty than to start building our own selves. Let us think of what we should’ve done and should’ve not done, and learn from our mistakes. We should reflect on what we are going to do with our lives, and to realize our own purpose. I learned that as young people, it is our task to be our own “transformers" and generate valuable changes in the world we live in. We should be in our attitude where we feel we can transform bad to good, good to better, and better to best. 
Going back home after having a deeper perspective on how youth can make such an impact I asked myself, “What if I was positive?” Random others may say, but it is not all about being neither infected with HIV nor being in the same position with Juno in the movie. But rather being positive for a better change. If only I could have been more positive for change, if only I could have been more positive earlier, there could have been a difference.

Meeting up with different youth leaders and advocates during the event made me so proud. Being able to exchange and hear their thoughts, ideas, and advises I was able to gain so much. Recognizing different perspectives and learning how we could be a better person, all that I achieved from them.

Gaining such, I have been more motivated to wake up each morning and to work hard in the advocacies I believe in. Being a YAFA member opened my eyes into a world where the youth seems to be powerless, conquered by an undefeated virus. But together with other volunteers and members, I would like to change that and create an environment where young people are informed, empowered, and protected. People with HIV/AIDS should not be judged for anything nor should they be taken away with their rights.

There are already a lot of different inspiring stories about young people who in their own simple ways stirred and changed the whole world in fighting for their advocacies (Efren Peñaflorida is one). I hope that each and everyone would do the same for it is in believing in ourselves that we could it. A simple change in mind-set could go a long way in boosting our adrenaline to create positive change. Let us all stand and take actions for what we believe in. We, the youth, are capable of doing so.

From that, let us all be positives for better changes and create a positive world.

Me. You. All of Us. Positives.

Karen Terado
YPEER Pilpinas