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What is the ELSA Youth Civic Engagement Program

June 15, 2008

Frequently Asked Questions: ELSA Youth Civic Engagement

What is Youth Civic Engagement Program?

Youth Civic Engagement Program is a youth leadership development program developed by Ayala Foundation for public high school student leaders and youth community leaders in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict areas.

The program provides leadership training through the ELSA Young Leaders Camp (EYLC) and conducts various post-training activities that inspire and nurture the youth to become vision-driven servant leaders and active, responsible citizens serving their communities and the country specifically addressing concerns on education.

What is the Program Framework of the Youth Civic Engagement Program?

The framework is primarily rooted on the principle of Servant Leadership. As a leadership paradigm, servant leadership is closely associated with the democratic process, principles of good governance, constructivist theory of learning, and service-learning. It is a cyclical framework consisting of four phases: consciousness-raising, organizing, mobilizing and sustaining efforts. These phases correspond to the goals of the Youth Civic Engagement Program. Each phase consists of activities to operationalize each of the phases.

What are the key phases and activities of Youth Civic Engagement?

Phase 1: Consciousness-raising
Activities: ELSA Young Leaders Camp and Community Scanning
Phase 2: Organizing
Activities: Project Management Training and Youth-led Education Project Alliance Building
Phase 3: Mobilizing
Activities: Youth-led Education Project Implementation
Phase 4: Sustaining Efforts
Activities: Project Monitoring, Project turn-over and Facilitators Training

How can I apply to become a participant/camper?

The application forms are distributed by the Community Organizers of Ayala Foundation assigned in the different priority barangays.

The community organizer distributes the forms to organized youth groups or to locally recognized institutions of a barangay.

What are the qualifications to be a Camper for ELSA Young Leaders Camps (EYLC)?

• Resident of the barangay organized by ELSA through Ayala Foundation Inc.
• 15-24 years old by the time of the ELSA Young Leaders Camp
• Endorsed by an organized youth groups for barangay with existing youth groups or locally recognized *institutions for barangay without existing youth groups
• In-school or out of school youth
• Model of integrity, discipline, excellence and has good moral character
• Take active and effective leadership role in the organization or in the community
• Active leader or officer of your organization
• Ability to communicate well in Filipino

Locally recognized institutions are as follows:

• Barangay officials
• Parish
• Madrasah
• Homeonwer’s Association
• Schools
• Sangguniang Kabataan

Are all applicants automatically becomes a camper?

All applicants will undergo a screening process. The screening process will obtain the top 50 best community leaders.

How long is the camp and where is it done?

The camp will approximately run in 3 to 3 ½ days. It is conducted in a venue that is strategically near to the priority barangays.

What will the camper do after EYLC?

After EYLC there are post camp activities for the campers to undergo in order for them to contribute specifically into educational issues.

Community Scanning, Project Management Training and Youth-led project implementation.

When does a camper graduate from the Youth Civic Engagement Program?

The camper graduate from the program after undergoing the process of the four phases mentioned above.