Students join ARC Camp to become better leaders

MANILA, Philippines - Forty student leaders have been selected to undergo in-depth training workshop in Baras, Rizal for the 2014 ARC Young Leaders Camp (ARCYLC). The youth camp has been hosted annually for three consecutive years now by ARC, the licensed bottler of RC Cola products in the Philippines.

Through guided discussions and intensive outdoor, experiential activities, 40 youth leaders will harness and hone their practical leadership skills, to “lead, create,change” which is also the camp’s enduring theme. One of the camp highlights is the lecture series where distinguished civic and private sector leaders deliver inspiring talks. Previous speakers include CNN Hero Efren Peñaflorida and Rappler founder Maria Ressa. The three-day workshop has been tagged as “life-changing” by participants since it was established in 2011.

The 40 delegates come from various colleges that are a mix of government-funded institutions and private universities where some of the delegates receive scholarship stipend. Brimming with determination and hard work, these delegates struggle to overcome socio-economic barriers just to get ahead in life. Forty like-minded leaders who just need a push that could effect change where it is needed most.

“We chose our participants on the basis of their skills and potential to lead, create, and change society,” according to ARC executive vice president and chief operating officer Gerry Garcia, who has displayed hands-on commitment throughout the years of ARCYLC.  “Most of them have not had the exposure and opportunity to broaden, strengthen, and develop their leadership capabilities due in part to socio-economic factors. But they are very eager to make a difference and it is then the camp’s objective to equip them to realize these visions and cultivate their skills to become better leaders.”

In the three years of the ARC Young Leaders Camp, it has taken under its wings a good number of underserved but deserving students, mentoring and inspiring them to rise to the demands of leadership in their own communities and in the country.