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Amidst the chaos, doubt, and disillusionment surrounding the issues we all face today, the preservation and creation of opportunities for the next generation are truly paramount. While it may sound cliché, the youth truly are the hope of the nation. They are the future shapers and movers of the industry, and investing in them will definitely initiate a ripple effect of positive change for our country.
Siklab, a non-stock, non-profit under Filipino social entrepreneur Saje Molato’s leadership, has been working for many years now to unlock the full potential of our youth. Social innovation, civic participation, and more importantly, providing education, are what drive this organization to push forward with its goal: transcending what society has dictated as the limitations most of our youth should settle for.
Saje Molato, CEO & Founder of Siklab, carries with him the profound impact that changed his life forever. Just like most of our youth today, there is still uncertainty and a sense of being in the shadows, unaware of what the future holds for them until Saje had his eureka moment that led him to where he is today.
In an interview, Saje Molato shared: “I was the first Filipino to win the Social Venture Challenge during the Harvard World Model United Nations Summit held in Rome, Italy, back in 2016. Winning the competition jump started my career in the startup space – a journey I never expected to be part of but one that continues to inspire me to keep going to this day.”
Siklab was started with the vision of empowering young Filipinos to have the ability to choose their own path in life. After 4 years of lobbying, one of Siklab’s flagship programs, the Pathways Fellowship, was launched in partnership with UNICEF, the ING Group, and the National Youth Commission of the Philippines.
The fellowship is designed to empower young founders in creating more financially sustainable startups, programs, and organizations. It operates through an online learning platform designed by our team with courses that are co-developed with established industry experts who have gone through their own journeys and succeeded – both from the Philippines and internationally.
The Pathways Fellowship is a 10-week online program in collaboration with UNICEF Philippines and the National Youth Commission which is designed to offer emerging young leaders a chance to gain knowledge in the fundamentals of advocacy development, acquire essential skills for effective advocacy, and refine these skills to translate ideas into tangible action. The program is facilitated by a diverse group of instructors, comprising both local and international mentors, industry experts, and nonprofit leaders.
Siklab draws further strength from its partners who are driven by the same goal. As Siklab aims to create the best opportunities for transforming the next generation into valuable members of society; they have forged tie-ups with the United Nations, USAID, The Asia Foundation, UNICEF, ING, YMCA, World Scouts, The Roddenberry Foundation, the National Government of the Philippines, and various local government partners.
Recently, as a testament to Saje Molato’s leadership and commitment to sustainable development, he was elected to lead the Peace, Security, and Governance sectors within NEDA‘s Stakeholder Chamber on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chamber is composed of the largest corporations operating in the Philippines. In line with his goal to forge partnerships in order to achieve the goals, he looks forward to creating further accountability in the private sector leading to significant contributions to the SDGs.
All these initiatives and engagements stand as significant precedents that continue to benefit the leaders of the next generation – substantial proof that Saje and his team are catalyzing a brighter future for young Filipinos, one young leader at a time.
Who is Siklab?
Siklab, a distinguished non-stock, non-profit organization dedicated to social innovation, civic participation, education, and development consulting, has emerged as a pioneering force in the industry since 2017. With a strong focus on designing systems for social innovation, civic participation, and democratic governance for young people, Siklab Pilipinas works closely with local and national government entities, national and international development organizations, and esteemed funding partners.
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