Listening Session with Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Officials and Youth Leaders

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC), in partnership with Hiraya Initiatives for Change and Progress (Hiraya), and the Democratic Insights Group (DIG), convened a Listening Session on January 26, 2026, as part of the exploratory efforts for the In-School Youth for SK 2026–2028 Project. The initiative aims to encourage in-school youth to consider running for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and to equip them with practical, ethical, and data-informed campaign skills. Recognizing the importance of grounding the project in real experiences, the organizers invited elected SK officials from across the country to share insights on the realities of youth candidacy.

Recognizing the importance of grounding the project in real experiences, the organizers, through Hiraya, invited elected SK officials from across the country to share insights on the realities of youth candidacy. The session provided a space for participants to openly discuss opportunities and challenges young leaders face, including balancing school responsibilities, navigating family expectations, and responding to local political dynamics.

Using a fishbowl format, the conversation centered on the lived experiences of SK officials while allowing observers, such as select school administrators, to listen and better understand how schools can support aspiring student leaders. The insights gathered will help shape a more responsive and realistic program that strengthens youth participation in governance.

The documentation report of the session along with the key insights and proposed next steps can be found below.

2026-01-26 Listening Session with SK Officials Documentation Report.pdf

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