By Allianah Bolotaulo | September 5, 2023
American Corner (AC) Dumaguete-Silliman University (SU) trained youth leaders on “Creating and Maintaining Social Enterprises” through a massive open online course (MOOC) camp.
The camp, which included an online component and in-person workshops, was held from Aug. 9 to 12.
Funded by the United States Embassy American Spaces Philippines, the camp aimed to strengthen “youth civil leadership skills, develop partnerships and collaboration techniques, and propose an advocacy-based NGO.”
A total of 25 individuals were selected from 81 applicants.
Participants came from different organizations in Dumaguete City, Cebu, Iloilo, Siquijor, and Negros Occidental.
Asst. Prof. Joshua Soldivillo, project leader of Project STEAMify and MOOC camp facilitator, said that the camp limited its number of participants to a “highly focused group.”
“We don’t want to organize something that’s very big in terms of quantity, yet the quality of engagement, mentorship, and exposure would be compromised,” he said.
To learn about sustainability practices, the participants visited the Kawayan Collective at Dauin, Negros Oriental, to observe the making of bamboo-based products.
Participants also presented non-government organization (NGO) proposals tailored to their community’s needs.
Relyn Tirambulo-Tayko, SU coordinator of AC Dumaguete, said their organization is ready to support organizations interested in pursuing their projects.
“We can provide them space for their training, […] speakers to improve their proposals, and other aspects in promoting their advocacies,” she said.
Out of 25 accepted applicants, only 21 completed the course and received certificates from the US Embassy.
This has been the third MOOC camp since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first camp was about community organizing for action, while the second tackled on COVID-19 and was organized by Johns Hopkins University.
MOOC camps will be conducted yearly at SU.
