Wazzup Pilipinas!?
The Sigaw ng Kabataan Coalition (SKC) is poised to celebrate a significant milestone as it marks its 10th Founding Anniversary on August 18, 2023.
In its 10th year, SKC endeavors to revive and strengthen its efforts to empower communities by activating and increasing the engagement of its local leaders and organizing grassroots-level activities anchored on the organizational development priorities: Quality and Accessible Education for all, Climate, and Environmental Action, Poverty Reduction & Access to Adequate Food, Decent Jobs and Sustainable Livelihood, Health and Social Welfare, and Peace in Diversity..
SKC, since its foundation on August 18, 2013, has been a driving force of youth empowerment, creating significant influences on the Philippines' developmental landscape. A non-government organization and national coalition of youth and youth-serving organizations, SKC represents more than 55,000 young people across the Philippines.
SKC’s mission is to amplify the voices of Filipino youth – empowering each young individual to become an active catalyst of change and prime movers of advancements in our country as the younger generation holds boundless potential and optimal ideals. A decade of existence, SKC has been consistent in its actions to empower young people through three major classifications of activities: capacity building, policy intervention, and humanitarian efforts. SKC has been proactive player in campaigning significant national legislations and policies, including the Bangsamoro Organic Law, Republic Act No. 11346 - Increase excise taxes on alcohol and e-cigarettes, RA 10643 Graphic Health Warnings Law, RA 11036 Mental Health Act, and the RA 11223 Universal Health Care Act.
SKC also strived in driving meaningful impact through targeted initiatives aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs), bearing the vision for a stronger and more resilient Philippines, particularly Goal 17 - Partnership for the Goals, which the organization exemplified by collaborating with various youth and non-profit organizations and government agencies both at the local and international level to contribute to the achievement of multiple SDGs.
Over the years, SKC's efforts centered on empowering young people through training, education, and civic engagements – molding them into becoming leaders and agents of change in their communities. SKC has partnered with Action for Economic Reforms (AER), Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition, FOI Youth Initiative, Youth for Sin Tax Coalition, Junior Chamber International - Philippines, Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in the Philippines, and SK Councils and Federations. And today, SKC boasts its members with various representations – public officials, indigenous peoples, young professionals, student leaders, and out-of-school youth.
Ellirie Nicolas Aviles, Founder and Chairman of Sigaw ng Kabataan Coalition, expresses his enthusiasm for the anniversary, stating, “Working with all SKC leaders, members, and allies in the past ten years made every moment of our youth meaningful and enjoyable. By working together, we became better, exceeded our limits, and made the impossible possible. Despite the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to our organization, we made it through. And today, as we welcome the post-pandemic era, we also embrace a more resilient SKC - gleaming with hope and passion.”
We call on our fellow youth to join us in our cry “Makialam, makiisa, makibahagi! Sama-sama nating palakasin ang sigaw ng kabataan. (Engage! Unite! Participate! Together, let’s amplify youth voices!)” Mr. Aviles added.
As SKC embarks on the next phase of its journey, the organization invites the younger generations to join in celebrating SKC’s foundation and to take an active part in its advocacies. For partnerships, send an email to skc.correspondence@gmail.com.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
