This research examines the impact of mentorship, collaborative formation, and leadership development initiatives on youth council members and volunteers. It highlights the pivotal role of youth councils and volunteers in co-designing and tailoring formation and leadership programs to their unique needs. This study also provides a basis for understanding the challenges and capacities of the youth in their leadership roles. This year’s Community Development Society Conference theme, "Community Currents: Navigating Change Together, " emphasizes the importance of collaboration in achieving a better understanding of social realities and generational differences, as well as exploring collaborative efforts in adapting to rapid changes. It is imperative to understand the context of youth (Generation Z) and how these leadership potentials can be harnessed to become active agents of change in their communities.
In the Philippines, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), or Youth Council, plays a crucial role in promoting youth engagement and leadership within local communities, as mandated by Republic Act 10742. This law not only establishes youth councils but also institutionalizes an electoral process to enhance young people’s participation in local governance. To support this, a formation and leadership development training initiative was implemented for the youth council of Palatiw, Pasig City, equipping emerging leaders with the critical skills they need. The initiative aims to empower young people to contribute meaningfully to community development. This collaborative effort resulted in the co-creation and delivery of a training program grounded in the Positive Youth Development (PYD) Framework, with sessions specifically designed to address the developmental objectives of the youth. Mentorship was integrated into the program to further advance the individual capacities of youth council members and volunteers (Lou & Stoeger, 2023). It navigates the critical aspects of leadership skills and character formation of the youth council and volunteers.
This study will examine the formation and leadership needs of youth council members and volunteers, providing recommendations on how mentorship and youth leadership can synergistically foster community development. Furthermore, it will assess the potential contributions of these initiatives to improve youth governance in the country. .
