Event Geek

Forty-two youth government leaders from the different barangays of Mandaue City re-learned the values of teamwork, coordination, and trust in a comprehensive three-day experiential leadership camp facilitated by the Kool Adventure Camp of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. In the photo, the young campers posed before the Climbing Wall, one of the “dragons” at the camp that tested their leadership abilities and confidence.

Forty-two Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation officers of Mandaue City sharpened their leadership competence through a recent three-day leadership camp at the Girl Scout of the Philippines Camp in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

These officers come from Barangays Alang-alang, Bakilid, Banilad, Basak, Cabancalan, Casili, Casuntingan, Centro, Cubacub, Guizo, Ibabao, Jagobiao, Looc, Mantuyong, Pakna-an, Pagsabungan, Subangdaku, Tingub, Tipolo, and Umapad.

The Kool Adventure Camp (KAC), an adventure-based education program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), conducted the leadership program.

This is the second year that the Mandaue City Government through the office of Mayor Jonas Cortes sent its young leaders to KAC for training.

The leadership program taught the participants self-awareness, self-confidence, “playing to win”, teamwork, balance, coordination, concentration, and trust, among others.

“Playing to win is about playing to win not only for our group but for all of us, even for others who are not part of our group. It does not matter who our groupmates are. As long as we have one goal, we should help each other. I learned through the KAC facilitators that if we want to run faster, we run alone, but if we want to run far, we run together,” Sheila Mae Ceniza, SK councilor of Barangay Mantuyong, said.

The program also featured KAC’s Challenge Ropes Course where participants conquered the high elements—Climbing Wall, High Y, and Pamper Pole—at a height of twelve feet above ground level or higher. All high elements, which require a safety mechanism called a "belay" system, produce powerful memories and provoke deep thoughts and emotions, while challenging physical abilities.

Alyssa Tenchavez, SK chairman of Barangay Basak, noted that being a negative thinker is something she wants to change after going through the three high elements, or the so-called “dragons”.

She added that to conquer the challenges, one should have trust and self-confidence and works well with his or her team. When asked about her dragons in real life, Tenchavez identified among them her being the SK chairman in her barangay since she is a newly-elected officer from the opposition party.

Integration activities, goal setting, and recognition of accomplishments were done on the third day of the leadership camp wherein participants put together a goal for their community and recognized their individual responsibility in ensuring that these goals are met.

KAC is one of the programs under RAFI’s Leadership & Citizenship focus area, one of the five focus areas of RAFI where future leaders are nurtured to prepare them to effect change. Its other focus areas are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and Education.

Since 1999, KAC has organized more than 240 camps for corporate/adult programs, public high schools and other youth programs. It is currently building the Philippines’ first Outdoor Experiential Center at Barangay Cansumoroy, Balamban, Cebu, which is set to open later this year.

KAC is an organizational member of the Association for Challenge Course Technology-USA and Association for Experiential Education-USA.

For more information about KAC and its programs, please call 418-7234 local 407 and look for Althea May Santillan, or email at althea.santillan@rafi.org.ph, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph.