Youth’s Collective Dream for Cebu unveiled at the Dream Festival
THE Global Shaper Cebu, a group of like-minded young individuals aiming to make a better and more sustainable Cebu, recently held the first ever Dream Festival: A Grand Celebration of the Collective Dream of the Youth of Cebu last November 19 at the Ayala Center Cebu.
The Cebuano youth’s collective dream — gathered through a year-long campaign of collecting dreams from the youth in corporations, classrooms and communities — was unveiled during the festival and aptly called SHAPE Cebu, which stands for Sustainable, Holistic, Accessible, Productive and Engaged Cebu.
During the event, speakers from different sectors talked about their own dreams. They were grouped according to the Global Shapers Cebu’s four main pillars: citizen engagement, environmental conservation, business development and universal education.
Miss Cebu 2016 Gabriele Raine Baljak talked about her work as an organic farmer and environmental conservationist. Michael Karlo Lim, one of the partners of Sugbo Mercado, spoke about his passion to help small businesses. Spiritual educator, Bobby Gothong, shared his dream to revolutionize the public school systems in the Philippines. Production art group, Sutukil Sauce, talked about using art as a medium for citizen engagement.
One of the highlights of the event were the advocacy booths where the youth can learn more about a certain organization and know more on how to help out. The booths present during the event were Let’s Do It Philippines, Kadasig, Save Philippine Seas, Archdiocese of Cebu Committee on Environmental Concerns, Islands Inclusive Business Program, DTI Go Negosyo, the Basadours and the Philippine Accessible Disability Services (Pads).
Musical guests kept the crowd buzzing with energy with performances by Bethany, the 2B Boys and the Mother Folker, Cattski Espina.
The Dream Festival was a unique event of youth empowerment made possible by the leadership of the Global Shapers Cebu, Cebuano youth hub of the World Economic Forum. From the Dream Festival, the Global Shapers Cebu are set to work on the collective dream with the help of the Cebuano youth in the coming year. For more information about the hub and the happenings at the Dream Festival, go to facebook.com/globalshaperscebu. (Deneb R. Batucan)
