SPARKING YOUR GANA: The Significance of Advocacy

Has there ever been anything you really wanted to do?

May it be pursuing a certain career or making a change, has there ever been anything you felt like you could do better?

Even at a young age, we have often thought of our purpose as humans, as people. For centuries, even millenia, humans have continuously advanced not only in terms of innovation and technology, but also of morals and progressive thinking. Throughout the years, we utilize free will into realizing what is right and wrong, and what should be changed.

So what is our purpose? What sparks our gana?

Our purpose is to change, to evolve. As young as we are, we feel the need to change, either to make change or be the change. We have the capability to rub at our bleary eyes and see the world in clearer view. To see and be aware that it is imperfect, and acknowledge that we can do better. We see a dying planet, and people ravaged with hunger, disease, and conflict.

This is where advocacies come into play. An advocacy is public support for a certain cause or policy with the intent to influence. Advocacy promotes equality, social justice, social inclusion, and human rights (Advocacy: inclusion, empowerment, and human rights, 2014), and is a progressive way of standing up for what you think is right. It is a method of problem solving that focuses on coming up with solutions instead of looking for problems. Advocating aims to empower those who have lost their voices, and to make them realize their right to be heard.

The role of an advocate is not to smother, but to amplify. Take it as fanning the flames and feeding it with wood. Not to the point of destruction, but enough to make its presence known; to shed light and warmth on a certain issue that we feel needs to be addressed.

However, we cannot deny that some may disagree, or even try to snuff the flames. “Bata ka pa!”, “Problema yan ng mga matanda”, and “Ang seryoso mo” are a few things that have been said to us as the youth to question our thinking. Do we really have to be older to start realizing things? Are we, as the youth, not capable of being serious and knowing what has to be changed? If we don’t start making a good change now, then when?

Complacency has never been a permanent human trait. Although some may retain conservative views, there will always be those who choose to progress, and with the help of advocacy, can blaze the trail for many others to follow. In turn, those who hesitate to change recognize the need to move forward through positive influence and adequate information.

With that being said, it is never too early or too late to progress. Clear your eyes, and BE the change we need.

REFERENCES:

Advocacy: inclusion, empowerment and human rights. (2014). Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). https://www.scie.org.uk/advocacy/commissioning/inclusion#:~:text=Advocacy%20promotes%20equality%2C%20social%20justice,behalf%20%E2%80%93%20is%20the%20ultimate%20aim.

‌OLCreate: HEAT_HEACM_ET_1.0 Health Education, Advocacy and Community Mobilisation Module: 17. Advocacy: 17.3 The advantages of advocacy. (2017). Open.edu. https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=175§ion=20.5