It is said that the youth is the future of the nation. Thus as the rebuilding of Marawi starts, some 300 youth leaders and college students from Iligan and other parts of Northern Mindanao came forward to leverage volunteerism to complement the extensive rehabilitation efforts in the city.
Non-government group I am Making A Difference, Inc. (I am MAD), composed of millennials committed to spread the gospel of active volunteerism and selflessness, recently staged a youth forum at the Doña Juana Actub Lluch Memorial Central School in Iligan City.
The forum, dubbed “MAD Talks: Nagmahal, Nasaktan, Nagvolunteer” presented resource speakers and successful volunteers who shared their insights and personal life experiences to inspire the Mindanaoan youth to continue to make a difference through their respective organizations and keep on helping others despite challenges.
“It is high-time to focus on the youth in this region in light of the Marawi siege,” said I am MAD co-founder Christian Marx Rivero.
Speaking from personal experience, I am MAD volunteer Wino Dela Cruz, encouraged participants to create “a community with shared compassion, charity, and care.”
Dela Cruz emphasized on turning pain into purpose and brokenness into blessing. He prodded youth leaders to “always choose to love no matter what, and experience that rare joy, renewed love of life through volunteerism.”
After a series of inspirational talks, the attendees lighted candles and formed the letters M-A-D, symbolizing their commitment to give light and be the light to many especially during dark times.
MAD Talks was just one of the activities in the three-day outreach program in Iligan City, dubbed “I am MAD Camp.” The first part of the program engaged select students at the host school in various sets of educational, entertaining, and team-building activities. The group also donated school supplies and snacks to evacuees from Marawi who are currently adopted as students at the school.