Coca-Cola calls on youth groups to join the 2013 TAYO Awards

Coca-Cola Philippines, through its social investment arm Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc., is calling on youth groups all over the Philippines to join this year's Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards, which recognizes the outstanding contributions of Filipino youth organizations in social development through innovative projects.

TAYO's partnership with Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. began in 2005 through the "Coke Barkada Award," which is given to the group that best demonstrates the Coke Barkada spirit of collective volunteerism, or "working together for the community and living the value of positive action for positive change.” The winning group receives a trophy and a cash grant. The award is part of the Foundation’s response to the global initiative of Coca-Cola that aims to focus on sustainability by improving personal well-being, building stronger communities, and protecting the environment. Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. has been the sole co-presenter of the TAYO Awards since 2006.

“Coca-Cola believes that the future of our society is in the hands of our youth, and that the power to change is multiplied exponentially as people come together on a common goal,” shares Cecile Alcantara, President of Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. “Through TAYO Awards, and the Coke Barkada Award, we want to show the Filipino youth that they can indeed become forces for positive change.”

The Coke Barkada Award in 2012 was given to Cebuano Youth Ambassadors for “BasuraSkwela: Changing Lives One Bag at a Time.” The project was inspired by a single bag crafted from used tarpaulin. Making bags from discarded materials has become a source of livelihood for the urban poor community of Tingub in Mandaue City, Cebu. To date, the project has been able to fund scholarships for 50 children in the community.

“BasuraSkwela is an innovative project that has made a tremendous impact in the community of Tingub,” says Atty. Adel Tamano, Vice President for Public Affairs and Communication of Coca-Cola Philippines. “It has empowered the residents in many aspects – trash recycling has helped improve the environment; as a source of income, it has helped improve the lives of families; and by giving access to children’s education, the project ensures the future growth of the community. ”

Tamano, who was also one of the judges for the awards, also noted that the Cebuano Youth Ambassadors is a great example of how the youth can make positive change happen when they work together. “Coca-Cola is all about sharing happiness, and this group definitely exemplified that barkada spirit we are looking for. When they presented BasuraSkwela to the TAYO Awards panel, I could tell that they also had a lot of fun working on the project.”

 

About the TAYO Awards

Since it was first launched by the TAYO Awards Foundation in 2002, over a thousand youth organizations have joined the search and are now part of the growing youth network that aims to contribute to the development of their local communities, schools, and workplace their trailblazing, valuable programs.

The TAYO Awards accepts entries from interested youth groups, organizations, clubs, and societies that are composed of at least 15 members, more than half of which must be between 15 to 30 years old. Nominated entries should be projects that have either been recently concluded or are still ongoing.

These entries will then be judged based on the following criteria: impact of the project on the stakeholders, harnessing the spirit of volunteerism and citizenship, creativity and innovation, and sustainability and effective use of resources. Winning organizations will receive a trophy created by Philippine sculptor Toym De Leon Imao, and a grant of Php50,000.00 intended to fund their new projects, or sustain the ongoing ones.

Other winners of the 2012 TAYO Awards include Angat Kabataan (Youth Wing of Angat Taytay), CBA-Kalipunan and Junior Marketing Executives, La Salle Debate Society, One Million Lights Philippines, Ramon Magsaysay Technological University’s Electrical Engineering Society, Monte Verde 4-H Club, Inc., University of Luzon Students in Enterprise, I CAN Make A Difference, Inc. and Dire Husi Initiatives, Inc.

Projects of winning organizations range from rural electrification, environmental rehabilitation, livelihood programs, and agriculture, aimed at making a difference in the lives of people from marginalized Filipino communities.

The TAYO Awards 2013 is presented by the TAYO Awards Foundation, together with Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc., in partnership with the National Youth Commission and the Office of Senator Kiko Pangilinan.