Nominations for 10th edition of youth group awards open

By: Tricia Aquino, InterAksyon.com
July 7, 2012 7:21 AM

National Youth Commissioner Georgina Nava briefs social media users on the 10th TAYO Awards.

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines -- Nominations are open for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations, now in their tenth year.

Organized by the TAYO Awards Foundation, Inc., the office of Senator Francis Pangilinan, and the National Youth Commission, TAYO is the only award-giving body that recognizes the outstanding contributions of youth organizations in seeking solutions to the problems facing the country.

"More than recognizing individuals, we recognize a group of young people who do not wait for the government or other people to help them address issues. Instead, they themselves try to come up with solutions," NYC Commissioner Georgina P. Nava told social media users Friday.

Among the past awardees is the Dynamic Teen Company, led by 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida, which won in TAYO’s sixth year for the renowned Kariton Classrom project that helps bring education to children in the slums with the use of pushcarts.

"TAYO means us, everybody, us young people doing good things," said NYC Commissioner Georgina P. Nava. "It also means tumatayo, young people standing up, showing the nation what great things they can do in their schools and communities."

"If you're doing good things, kailangan tumayo ka, ilabas mo yan, ipagmalaki mo (If you're doing good things, you have to stand up, spread the word, be proud of it). You have to join the TAYO revolution: isang dekada ng pagbabago (one decade of change)."

TAYO is accepting entries from outstanding organizations with at least 15 members who are 15 to 30 years old.

To qualify, an organization must meet the following criteria:

Impact of the project entry on stakeholders
Harnessing the spirit of volunteerism and citizenship
Creativity and innovation
Sustainability
Effective use of resources

TAYO encourages organizations to send their entries through its website,www.tayoawards.net.

They can view the form at http://www.tayoawards.net/join/, and e-mail the accomplished form to tayo10entry@gmail.com.

TAYO also has a Twitter account @tayoawards, and a Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/tayo.secretariat.

The deadline for entries is July 16.

"We see the value of new media and bloggers to send the message to the youth that there are really tsunamis of hope. Ang dami-daming mga kabataan (There are so many young people) who are doing their share in nation-building," said NYC Chairman Leon G. Flores III.

Last year’s winners proved just that:

Aklan Catholic College Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants, which provides accounting services pro bono to Aeta farmer cooperatives
Alyansa ng mga Kristiyanong Mag-aaral - Responsable nga Balikatan han mga Kabataan, which makes healthcare accessible to rural communities in the form of approved herbal medicine
Association of Locally Empowered Youth in Northern Mindanao, which addresses food security and sanitation by using human waste as fertilizer
Sama-samang Tinig ng mga Aktor na Gumagalaw sa Entablado, which uses the folk epic to trace roots to the past, and thread routes to the future
Indak Kabataan Youth Organization, which has turned once-"perwisyo sa komunidad (menace to the community)” into "pag-asa ng bayan (the hope of the nation)”
Industrial Engineering Council of Cebu Institute of Technology-University, which uses fun learning activities to provide economic assistance and environmental awareness
Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo, which fosters the growth of Philippine literature and culture through teaching Filipino poetry
Youth Solidarity for Peace, which aims to be the center and model for children and the youth on peace education
Youth Mindanawans Peace Builders, which organizes activities to help Muslims, Christians, and Lumads understand each other
University of Cordillera - Hapiyoh Mi Cultural Group, which protects and preserves Cordilleran culture

TAYO awardees get a P50,000 cash grant to implement their programs and specially crafted trophies by internationally-known sculptor Toym De Leon Imao.