HAPI Juniors, under the Humanist Alliance Philippines, International, is a wing of HAPI that is intended for youth development. The main goal of this wing is to train future leaders in brainstorming, event-planning, and conducting their own activities for environmental and secular educational activities. It is also a venue for some youth to interact with their fellows who they can relate the most with.
The youth is said to be the most powerful generation. They’re the most energetic and has much free time. But what can they do to help the society to promote humanity? Most of them do not care. Most of them are just contented with their lives, scrolling on their Facebook accounts, sharing the video clips of the effects of climate change and global warming but did nothing about it. Most of them do not care about the happenings in the society, but there are a few who does.
The HAPI Juniors gathered last December 10, 2017 at the Pizza Republic in Bacolod City to plan for possible projects, programs, and activities that they can have for 2018. On an almost three-hour meeting, the Junior Humanists were able to formulate different kinds of activities which focus on humanism, education, environment, and health.
Gender discrimination is very evident in our society nowadays. In schools, offices, workplaces, even on the streets, you cannot miss a single day without seeing a member of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Community being bullied, laughed at, or simply teased. To lessen this kind of discrimination or at least to raise awareness, the Juniors planned to hold symposia on SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) and GAD (Gender and Development) by February. The Juniors believe that there is nothing wrong with being gay, in being a lesbian, in being a bisexual or a trans-whatever you are. There is nothing wrong to be YOU.
Aside from gender discrimination, HAPI Junior also planned to conduct a seminar on bullying at the start of the next school year.
It might sound cliché, but still, education is the most useful weapon in achieving a better future ahead. But, how can a student have the will to study or enjoy school if he or she has the risk of dropping out or repeating because of his/her unsatisfying remarks? So, the HAPI Junior in partnership with the Supreme Student Government of Bata National High School, where HAPI Juniors came from, will be working hand in hand with tutoring students at risk of dropping out. Their main concerns are the subjects of Science, Mathematics, and English.
Another project of HAPI Junior, in line with education, is helping the out-of-school-youths with the basics of what they need in getting a job, how to take care of themselves, and how to boost their self-esteem. This is to show that learning is not exclusive to the persons who wear uniforms and ID cards.
Mother Gaea (Mother Earth) has been struggling because she is given less importance and less care today, especially by the youth. So, in response to the call of help by Mother Nature, HAPI Junior plans to take big little steps through monthly clean-up drives to be dubbed as “Linis Walis”, it is adopted from BNHS SSG’s project.’Linis’ means ‘to clean’ and Walis means ‘sweeping’ so it literally means, “to clean by sweeping”. But, what is the difference of this cleanup drive compared to others? This clean-up drive will come with a talk. It will make the residents of the community aware of the problems that nature is facing right now and how they could help for the betterment.
According to statistics, Bacolod City tops the highest number of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) positives in Negros Occidental. Most of the HIV+ were the youth. Most of them are still in school. Some are in junior high, senior high or college students. Most of them are also members of the LGBT Community. As we all know, HIV/AIDS still has no cure. So, the best thing to do now is prevention and the first thing with prevention is awareness. HAPI Junior will use its voice to influence their fellow youth and to raise awareness in all students of Bata National High School in January.
One of the events that the HAPI Junior is preparing for is their big day on October 21, 2018. The Juniors will have a one-day conference on becoming a ‘One-of-a-Kind Millennial’. The conference includes various talks on SOGIE, environment, leadership, and internet etiquette.
Since installation, the HAPI Juniors has been inviting youth to be a part of the organization and to become future leaders.There is no requirement for joining HAPI Junior, as long as you persevere, willing to learn, and a team player, you are in!
For more info just contact the HAPI Junior Lead Convenor, Ceejay Deriada Pastrana and HAPI Junior Head Joshua Ofiasa Villalobos on Facebook.
Be one of us and help us in advancing humanism!
You can also choose to donate to help us fund our future projects, click on the donate button to donate.
Article author:
Joshua Villalobus
HAPI Junior Head
HAPI Juniors- Bacolod
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