'AKBAY' - Children and Youth Organization
The Zambales-Olongapo Children and Youth Organization now called AKBAY
was born timely on the second year of the project. AKBAY is an acronym for
"Aksyon ng Kabataan at mga Bata para sa Bayan". In English - Children
and Youth Action for the Nation. "AKBAY" literally means to put
one's arm over somebody's shoulder in a gesture of friendship, deep sympathy
and in a way a gesture of helping a person.
The formation of AKBAY is considered a great success and breakthrough in organizing the children and youth of Zambales in Olongapo for the purpose of pursuing the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children that guarantees child participation in all aspects and issues that affects their lives. Furthermore the Rights of the Youth is provided and guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution.
AKBAY, after it has been formalized and soon after the first Children and Youth Congress has spread throughout the 13 towns of Zambales and in the City of Olongapo. Its presence in many schools and towns makes it more popular and socially accepted. It has made representations in many meetings of NGOs and institutions who are getting the participation of children and youth in their programs. AKBAY has been recognized by the Government Provincial Board of Zambales and has become well known as advocates of human rights specially the rights of children, youth and women. The move to make it as the umbrella organization of all children and youth organizations in Zambales and Olongapo has its momentum after the first formal Congress.
Seventy (70) children and youth leaders and advocates from Olongapo City to the farthest town of Sta. Cruz in the North of Zambales were convened for the formal Organisational Structure and Socialisation. Out of the Seven Commissions, the EXECOM was elected.
The following organizational commissions were organized to address specific concerns:
Commission on Environmental Protection
Commission on Children and Women's Rights Advocacy
Commission on Socio-Economic Projects
Commission on Education, Culture and Sports
Commission Child and Youth Participation and Governance
Commission of Preventive Health Education
Each commission has members representing each of the towns in Zambales and Olongapo. They have elected a Senior and Junior commission heads. The purpose of having a Junior head with junior members is to provide organizational sustainability. Senior members are youth belonging to the age range of 18 to 24 whereas Junior members are from 12 to 17 years of age. The commissions have drawn up their comprehensive plan of action until the year 2001.
At present these commissions take upon themselves the task to meet regularly to plan their activities. Their immediate objective is to create a social impact by undertaking relevant impact projects to make their presence felt by the community. Long term plan of action are also prepared. This is part of the on-going campaign to empower children and youth pursuant to the objectives of the project and pursuant to the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
To enable the youth leaders to come up with the long listing or plan of activities that will serve as their project per commission, AKBAY conducted youth meetings every 2nd Saturday for the following six consecutive months. The meeting was also in preparation to the Youth Congress that was held last April 2000. In the first half of the year, thirty four (34) core group leaders held several meetings to plan the activities, prepare the solicitation and invitation letters, and coordinate with the members. These meetings were with the guidance of the members of the project staff.