Usapan sa KDCs – is a development forum project which will be initiated by Notre Dame University. It will bring all local candidates in the Knowledge for Development Center (KDCs) to interface with the student and youth leaders gathered during the Caravan on Good Governance goes to KDCs. This will be a follow-through activity of that project implemented in KDCs recently. The youth leaders will interface with the local candidates, and bring forward their youth agenda crafted during the workshop entitled.. If the youth were in public service. This activity will guide the youth in choosing for the leaders who can put forward good governance and the youth agenda when elected.

Another segment of the project is the DevBuzz , a talk-show format, where the candidates will interact with other leaders of CSOs and academe and discuss development and governance issues; and other issues faced by our country.

Objectives:

The forum aims to make the electorate especially the youth realize that voting is not only an inalienable right and that the conduct of free elections is crucial in ensuring democracy and genuine people’s participation, but that more importantly, that how and who one votes is a manifestation of self-respect, and how we view our participation in developing our communities and our nation.

Another important feature of this forum is that it introduces the value of youth’s participation in electing leaders.

Specifically, the project aims to help the youth voters to realize that voting is a personal decision, and a reflection of one’s respect for self; make choices based on a better understanding of the leaders capacity to govern and clear agenda on governance, education , youth, and development in general; encourage active participation of youth voters to participate in the whole electoral and governance process; and eventually effect informed political choices among the youth voters.

This project is initiated and led by Notre Dame University-KDC with Prof. Sonia dela Cruz and Prof. Sheila G. Algabre. University of San Carlos is a partner in the implementation of this project.