Empowered youth take awards spotlight

Not all young people spend their free time frivolously. There are those who would spend it to create a better communities, better future, and a better nation. There is no better proof of this than the nominees of this year’s Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards. 

Presented by the TAYO Foundation and Coca-Cola Philippines, the 13th iteration of the TAYO Awards recognizes formal and non formal youth organizations whose programs have created positive impact in five categories: Culture and the Arts, Peace, and Human Development; Livelihood and Entrepreneurship; Health, Nutrition, and Well-Being; Education and Technology; and Environment, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Climate Change Adaptation.

A special plum is the Coke Barkada Award given to the youth organization that best embodies togetherness while making a positive change in the community. The 13th TAYO Awards was recently held at the Kalayaan Hall of Malacañang Palace.

Among the finalists was the Project BOHE (Building Opportunities through Health and Environment) of the Youth Working for Change in Basilan. Despite security threats, challenging terrain, and limited financial capacity, the group continued to work on bringing potable water to the upland communities in the island of Basilan. The group, led by Nasiba Salip, has provided potable water for almost 100 households in the villages of Limbo-Upas, municipality of Tipo-Tipo, and in Atong-Atong, municipality of Lantawan.

For their unrelenting dedication to providing a simple albeit sustainable solution for a basic and urgent human need, the group was awarded the Coca-Cola Barkada Award during the 13th TAYO Awards.

Winners in the other TAYO Awards categories were no less inspiring. For the Culture and the Arts, Peace, and Human Development category, I am Making a Difference (I am M.A.D.), is a youth volunteer group that provides scholarship for children who serve as role models in their respective communities.