A partnership between Education Kindling (eKindling) and BakitWhy.com, “The Kindling Change Campaign” sits down with the most world shaking individuals leading the movement to align impact, profit and purpose in the global Pilipino community. You can join the discussion at #kindlingchange. eKindling is a Philippine-based social enterprise focused on rethinking learning through technology and innovation. You can follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/ekindling), Like us on Facebook (facebook.com/educationkindling), or follow us on Tumblr (educationkindling.tumblr.com)
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Esperanza Garcia is a Global Youth Leader, Speaker, Climate Change Policy Negotiator/Specialist, Educator, Blogger, Mother born & raised in Cebu, Philippines. She is co-founder & director for International Youth Council. Since 2007, IYC has provided educational resources & leadership opportunities young global leaders. You can follow her on Twitter @esperanzagarcia or email her at esperanza@
You founded co-founded a non-profit called International Youth Council, can you tell us about it?
In 2007, the International Youth Council (IYC) was founded at the 4th Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations. The IYC is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization dedicated to giving young people across the world both collective voice and a mechanism to support global sustainable development. The International Youth Council (IYC) has provided educational resources & leadership opportunities to hundreds of young global leaders and has grown to having over 20 chapters globally.
What’s the vision for the IYC and what values drive the organization?
We aim to build a global forum and platform on which all young people can develop a unified voice and take collective action toward social, economic, and environmental progress.
Activities of the IYC were founded upon, and driven by, the following principles: Young people are the primary stakeholders and, as such, must be active agents in the decision-making and implementation process of sustainable development. Young people are not the leaders of tomorrow – they are the leaders of today. Young people are the catalyst of fundamental and transformative change across the world and they are capable and inspirational leaders who may require support and resources to develop and implement a social venture.
What inspires you to do the work that you do?
Climate change is the greatest challenge in the history of our time. It is more than just science and politics, climate change is about our survival. I am greatly inspired by the youth and firmly believe that it is our generation who can avert the global climate crisis. As youths - we are young, we are brilliant, we have the technology available, and we have the resources in front of us -- that pursues the sustainable development that we need. It is about utilizing these resources and making them into something we can use that can influence our community, our society, and in effect influence the world. As youths- the future is ours. We need to inspire each other, we need to look after each other.
I am neither a scientist nor a politician. Discovering, fuelling, and excelling in my passion has given me confidence and made me realize my potential in making a global impact. In the work that I have done, I have mobilized youth from all over the world and played a part in inspiring global action.
If I die tomorrow, I will have no regrets. I've lived my passion- fighting hard for a worthy cause, mindful of our generation, and future generations to come - and I fight not because of you, I fight for my little girl. I can’t find a better reason to fight for, but for her future. I may be young, but I've lived, and I'm living life every day, as visceral and full as I can make it. Tomorrow is a new day, and tomorrow, my contentment remains.
Who or what have had the biggest influences in your life as a changemaker?
I attribute a lot of who I am today to where I am from, the people who have raised me, and having a daughter at such a young age. I have compassion for people in poverty because I see hungry people in my country every day , and I can no longer pretend that I am immune to seeing this because I know I can help. I know I can help because I was raised by people who devoted their whole lives to helping other people in my country. My father, Winston Garcia as the President of GSIS, my Grandfather, Congressman Pablo Garcia as a two-termer Congressman of the Third District Cebu, three-termer Governor of Cebu and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the Republic of the Philippines, my aunt, Gov. Gwen Garcia, who has the reputation of being the best Governor in the history of Cebu, my namesake, inspiration, and Grandmother, Judge Esperanza Garcia, and many more people in my family who inspire me to be as ambitious as I can be, devoting a life of public service, so I am able help those who need help the most. My country believes in my family, because they have proven that they can make a difference, and have made the desired changes, and I am proud, blessed, and honored to be part of a lineage of brilliant characters.
I have also been blessed with great mentors who are globally-respected. Other than those who have inspired me in my family, there are the mentors whom I have met in life who are constantly encouraging, providing me with valuable advice and endless opportunities.
(Do you have a mentor who has changed your life? Why don’t you thank them at #kindlingchange)
What's one of the failures/challenges you experienced in your changemaking career? and how did you overcome it?
At the age of 18, I had my education taken away from me. When I was studying at an all-girls Catholic college in the Philippines, I was told by the Dean of my former college to take a leave from school- and end my studies temporarily, because of my pregnancy as a single woman. I believe as a woman, we deserve the right to an education regardless of our state. I opted to continue my studies anyway at another school. Due to this experience, I feel honored to be able to study in any school, regardless of its status. The experience also allowed me to value education more.
When I worked for Senator Legarda when she was running for Vice President in the 2010 Philippine elections, we campaigned for bills such as the Renewable Energy Act, of which she had co-authored. Just recently, the Philippine government formed the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) to help implement renewable energy initiatives. President Aquino Jr. had just announced that our country aims to becoming 50 % renewable energy by 2030. We are currently 27% powered by geothermal – making our goal ambitious, but realistic. Despite our limited resources of being an emerging country, we recognize the importance of the implementation of sustainable initiatives, and I am confident that we can reach our goals.
This summer, I am studying physics & engineering at Yale University, and will continue my studies at Columbia University in the Fall. I hope to use the knowledge that I am learning in these schools and come home and make the little difference that I can make and help make the difference that we need in our country.
How can those reading now get involved in IYC?
The IYC fully allows and encourages the establishment of new national, city, and student chapters. The role of chapters is vital in the overall mission of the International Youth Council. Chapters provide local perspective and input while carrying out meaningful activities that is consistent to the overall mission of the International Youth Council.
Also The Philippine Youth Delegation is now on its 3rd year in facilitating Filipino Delegates to the Climate Change Negotiations. As we are now preparing for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference, the Philippine Youth Delegation is in need of passionate young individuals who will take part in this event.
You can sign up here.
