PAMPANGA—A month after the Scout-led anti-sexual assault and gender equality advocacy group—Scouts Against Sexual Harassment and Abuse—was launched, it was recognized as the “Most Promising Project” during the Young Leaders Fellowship 2022 conducted on December 27-30, 2022 in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute, Inc., Facebook page, describes the Young Leaders Fellowship as the umbrella project of their organization. NYLI is a youth-led non-profit organization based in Bacolod City.

SASHA was introduced to the public on November 25, 2022, through a face-to-face launch attended by the Amateur Media Association of the Philippine Scouts’ top officials and the convenors of the said project Scout Samantha Lorraine Jauco and Scout Mika Grace Regala of Tarlac Council and Negros Occidental Council respectively.

Regala was present during the said leaders’ summit and was the one who pitched the project to a panel. There were 22 community development projects that were presented and are expected to be implemented this 2023.

“I am so grateful to Sam, to our mentors, the whole team behind SASHA, and the organizers of this event. Thank you for believing in the power of the Scouts in fighting sexual harassment and abuse,” Regala said in an interview.

According to her, the team can not believe that they receive such recognition at an early stage and that this only means that they should do better and continue fighting gender-based violence inside and outside the Scouting movement.

“Even I, can’t believe it. This recognition means a lot, not just for our team, not just for the project, but for all the women, children, and LGBT+ community members out there who are victims of gender-based violence. This is for you,” she added.

Jauco said that the Scouts and the public should expect more activities and projects by SASHA in championing the fight in ending violence against children, women, and LGBT+.

“It was teased during the #ThisIsSASHA Webinar, but we are just starting. We are winning battles, we have yet to win the war. So, we hope our fellow Scouts and advocates will continue to support us and together we’ll make teal take over,” she said in a private message.

This year’s YLF is co-implemented by Youth Empowering Youth Initiative Inc., Peace First, the Local Government of Kabankalan City, and the BSP – Negros Occidental Council.