The youth’s meaningful participation in democratic governance
According to the 2021 National Youth Survey, the youth’s expression of participation in democratic governance is shaped by technology, specifically by social media and online campaigns. With 97 percent having access to at least one social media account, more than half of the youth have liked or shared political or social posts on social media.
Arangkada (accelerate) 2023, implemented by the Youth Leadership for Democracy in partnership with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., aims to foster collaborative engagement, upskilling, and strengthening of youth networks across the country; providing more spaces that inspire Filipino youth to participate in democratic governance.
According to the 2021 National Youth Survey, the youth’s expression of participation with regards to democratic governance is shaped by technology, specifically by social media and online campaigns. With 97 percent having access to at least one social media account, more than a half of youth have liked, or shared political or social posts on social media.
“Nothing about us, without us.”
This is the concluding call of the 1,000 Filipino youth leaders to the government, private sector, and civil society to ensure young people’s meaningful participation in democratic governance at the Arangkada: Youth Leaders’ Summit 2023 held in Cebu City.
Anchored on the Philippine Youth Development Plan 2023-2028, the youth leaders bared their collective commitments and calls for greater involvement in addressing various economic, political, social, and cultural inequalities and injustices in the country.
This year’s summit holds paramount importance as it introduced the new PYDP for the first time. NYC Commissioner Reena Pineda shared NYC’s “10 Centers of Participation,” identifying key priority areas where the Commission will focus its efforts in the next five years to bolster youth development: (1) Health; (2) Education; (3) Economic Empowerment; (4) Social Inclusion and Equity; (5) Peace building and Security; (6) Governance; (7) Active Citizenship; (8) Environment; (9) Global Mobility; and (10) Agriculture.
YouthLed then designed the summit to localize the new PYDP, zooming in on each center of participation and facilitating conversations that deepened the participants’ knowledge on issues and triggered entry points for participation.
Beyond the summit, YouthLed has also begun supporting projects of youth organizations through the grant facility IGNITE Grants, mobilizing nearly P12.3 million in grant funding to support initiatives that strengthen youth participation in democratic governance.