In the middle of a depressed area shines hope in the hands of youth volunteers. With the Piglas Kabataan (PK), the youth are empowered and encouraged to speak out, know their rights and fight for their rights.

Touching the lives of the youth from Cavite, Rizal, Metro Manila, PK offers a wide variety of services that are beneficial to the youth and their communities. Their Central Organization is based in Tondo, Manila where their mother organization, the Zone One Tondo Organization (ZOTO) started and stayed.

These youth started by joining the diverse membership of ZOTO before deciding to form a specific group for the growing number of youth volunteers. PK launched their first General Assembly in 2004 where Manny Toribio was elected as President.

A high school graduate who had become a bystander, Manny realized that there was more to life that just hanging out. He decided to attend workshops and youth seminars, which opened him up to the situation in the real world. Realizing the need for the youth to take action and be conscious about the society, he participated and started an advocacy that would bring the youth to another side of life.

With Manny's leadership, PK championed different activities that would let the youth experience life, discover things, learn lessons and even share their talents. Their seminars, workshops and activities touch on a variety of issues that make the youth more conscious of what's happening around them.

PK together with ZOTO produced albums, the first of which was released in 2003. The songs were all originally written and performed by the youth volunteers and were arranged by professional partners. They have now released three albums and performed at international events in Germany and Netherlands.

Most of the volunteers of PK are out-of-school youth who are now considered to be experienced and knowledgeable people who are ready to face life and are open to society's issues. 'Hindi lahat kasi nakukuha sa eskuwelahan eh, so pag dito ka alam mo na 'yung nangyayari sa labas, hindi 'yung gagawin mo kung ano 'yung gusto mo (You won't learn everything from school, with this you'll be conscious of what's happening outside, and won't be selfish of only doing want you want),' said Sanyto Sederia, a successful Piglas Kabataan member. Sederia is now head of the Caloocan chapter and considers PK to be an eye opener to the real world. He believes that we just have to open our eyes and be sensitive enough of what's happening around us.

Angielyn Lutan 20, is the PK Finance Officer and believes that it was by joining this organization that she gained confidence and found purpose in her life. She became a member when she was 15, and she soon realized that she could gain knowledge not only by attending seminars but by taking action.

It is not only the experience and the knowledge that they gain that's important to the volunteers. They always keep in mind that volunteerism is a two way process. 'Ginagawa mo 'yun para mapasaya sila, para makatulong pero kailangan may nararamdaman ka din na self-fulfillment (You do it to make them happy and to help them but in your part, you also have to experience self-fulfillment),' says Thodz Epong who is one of the musicians in the group.

Above photo: (left to right) Sanyto, Thodz, Angielyn, and Manny.

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Interviewed and written by Francheska Garcia, UNV Communications Intern
Editted by Louise Pine, Online Volunteer