ASOG-ExecEd & QC partner to transform youth leaders

The Ateneo School of Government Executive Education(ASoG-ExecEd), in partnership with the Quezon City Youth Development Office (QCYDO), conducted the “Transformational Leadership Program” from December to February. The program endeavored to develop the skills, mindset, and knowledge of fifty (50) selected leaders from different barangays. Five informative sessions with various expert resource persons tackled key areas in leadership, self-governance, youth development, and inclusive democracy. 

Highlighting that leadership is a repetitive process of action-reflection, ASoG Professor Praxis Leon Flores discussed the ASoG’s leadership framework. The framework aims to develop a cohort of leaders committed to active service and social justice and with a solid command of technical, political, organizational, and ethical practices of good governance. 

Atty Eirene Aguila discussed democracy and a brief situation in the country. Performer-activist Ms Mae Paner aka Juana Change, shared her experiences as an activist and how she is able to portray her advocacy effectively. Commissioner for Luzon Atty Reena Vivienne Pineda of the National Youth Commission discussed the Philippine Youth Development Plan and how the youth can actively engage in nation-building through the updated centers of participation. 

For the culminating session last 3 February, held at the Quezon City Hall, Prof Flores led “Lakbay Balangay, a structured team-building initiative that fostered camaraderie among the participants and put their leadership skills to the test. Segmented into two groups, the participants showcased their adeptness in task completion, followed by reflective sessions. 

Almar Galagate, one of the youth participants, lauds the final session’s practica; the application of acquired knowledge, stressing the pivotal role of communication and planning, regardless of familiarity with team members. He underscores the necessity of pausing, strategizing, and evaluating to propel activities forward. Concluding the event, Dean Philip Arnold P Tuaño underscores the significance of youth engagement in politics, encapsulating the event’s broader societal relevance. 

Mayii Gaw, the focal person from the QCYDO, conveyed a successful partnership with ASoG in their shared commitment to their youth development programs. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of aligning objectives and leveraging expertise to empower emerging young leaders from the grassroots. They were grateful for the opportunity to learn from the esteemed experts at ASoG with insights and guidance that have been invaluable in shaping strategies and ensuring programs are effective in addressing the needs of their fellow youth in the communities.