The Kabataang maka-Bayan is a comprehensive National Democratic Youth Organization seeking to empower the youth and the community in the United States by educating, training, organizing, and mobilizing the youth and the grassroots to create systemic change. The KmB seeks to propagate the National Democratic struggle in the Philippines and all principled pro-people's struggles locally and throughout the world thereby enhancing the quality of life of Filipinos, Filipino Americans , Asian/Pacific Islanders, and the larger community. The KmB hereby adopts the following guiding principles to ensure the clarity and consistency in its practice to serve the people:
It is National in scope and essence and serves the interests of the Filipino people, the Filipino-American Community, Asian/Pacific Islander and the community at large. The KmB stands firm against Imperialism in all of its forms, including interventionist actions and policies that subjugate the people.
It is Democratic because it upholds this process as it serves the masses. It is pro-people because it was created by the people for the people advocating the concerns of the youth from all sectors, in cooperation with the whole Community and all those who cherish freedom. The KmB reiterates that the Philippines and all nations worldwide must be accountable to the vast majority of the people in their struggle for self-determination. The KmB also recognizes the people's quest to improve their quality of life. As eighty percent of the population of the Philippines consists of peasant farmers, the KmB stands as one with the people in their demand for genuine land reform. The struggle for self-determination here in the U.S. consists of the fight for Human Rights, Workers Rights etc. and other pro-people's issues.
1. Empowerment - The KmB will serve the people of all races by educating, training, organizing and mobilizing people to become active in the struggle for social justice and systemic change.
The KmB seeks to facilitate and be one with the people in their struggle to develop a movement, driven by the masses towards the protection of basic human rights and the creation of an equitable, just and humane society where self-sustaining, locally controlled communities provide housing, education, health, fulfilling employment with livable wages and other necessities.
2. Organizing and Mobilizing - KmB will engage in organizing and mobilizing the youth and community to identify and address a broad range of myriad problems and issues. Utilizing a participatory approach giving priority to the active involvement of the youth and Community, the KmB particularly stresses the education and training of disenfranchised youth and other sectors of the population.
3. Education and Training - KmB will actively develop the skills of the youth and the community ultimately increasing their leadership capacity adhering to the principle; "from the people, for the people."
4. Leadership - KmB will foster Collective and Democratic leadership and decision making within its organization and the community. By using the process that unifies and engages cooperation, mutual benefits and collaboration it further develops Collective action and individual initiative and responsibility.
5. Coalition Building - The KmB will develop and strengthen existing people's and youth coalitions, alliances and partnership across ethnic, cultural, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class and sectoral lines and will work on issues of mutual interest with respect for organizational autonomy, to advance the empowerment of the youth and the community.
6. Multi-culturalism/gender/sexuality sensitivity - The KmB is committed to the acceptance, respect, tolerance, and sensitivity towards the diverse cultures, religions, ethnicities, disability, gender, and sexual orientation present in all communities. It will strive to make culturalism a reality by developing more pro-people, progressive, and scientific cultures in the face of capitalist cultural aggression in all its forms.
7. Women - The KmB will propagate women's issues in the face of capitalist exclusion, oppression and the perpetuation of patriarchy especially on its effects on the socialization on the youth of the Community. There should be a proactive stand on the part of the youth in advocating for young women's.
8. International Solidarity - KmB will support the struggles of different nations against Imperialism and capitalist socio-political, economic and cultural aggression. The KmB believes that the true expression of solidarity will be concrete actions to alleviate the sufferings of oppressed peoples, workers, minorities and other sectors in the Philippines and the so-called "Third World."
We pledge to actively support, advocate and be committed to work for these missions, visions and goals.
Updated 11/30/99
� Copyright 2001 Kabataang maka-Bayan