Our Stories

Over 200 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials of Mandaue City participated in a transformative 3-day Personal Development Course conducted by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) Center for Leaders (CFL) at the Kool Adventure Camp, Balamban, Cebu. The training was held in two batches, with the first batch attending from June 12-14 and the second batch from June 26-28, 2024.

The sessions, aimed at enhancing leadership skills and defining core values, were thoughtfully designed by the RAFI CFL. The Mandaue City Youth Development Office, under the leadership of Youth Development Officer Ms. Alyx Sandrah R. Manatad, initiated this engagement. 

The first day of the course was a blend of collaborative activities, energizers, and a camp name-sharing session, setting a lively and inclusive tone for the participants. 

One of the highlights of the training was the ropes course activities, which were expertly facilitated by the Kool Adventure Camp (KAC) training team. These activities not only challenged the participants physically but also fostered teamwork, trust, and communication among them. 

The RAFI CFL structured these activities to guide the young leaders in aligning with Mandaue City’s core values and honing their leadership skills, which will help them serve their communities more effectively. 

Reflecting on the experiences, Romel ‘Sunset’ Beldad, SK Councilor of Barangay Canduman, shared his insights: “During my three days with the Center for Leaders, I learned that good leadership is being more connected, being more engaged, and being more involved with your constituents to be able to touch their lives and help them become the better version of themselves.”

This initiative underscores the commitment of MCYDO and RAFI CFL to empower the youth and cultivate a new generation of leaders ready to contribute to the well-being of their communities.