WHEN thousands of youth gathered for the Global Youth Summit, they all have one thing in mind – make a difference. And they are beginning that change in the upcoming national elections by voting and making their voices heard.

Over the weekend, around 5,000 university students attended the Global Youth Summit, an annual event that brings together the youth from all the country and the world to help them realize their full potentials.

Event organizer Christian Billones, president of AIESEC Philippines, the world’s largest youth-run network based in Quezon City said the youth should be able to recognize the power they have in their hands to change their lives and society including choosing the next leaders of the country.

He said if the youth could unite with one voice, they could change the whole political landscape because of their sheer number.

The Commission on Elections had said the youth aged 18 to 35 years old comprise some 46 percent of the voting population, the largest voting block. “We have the power to elect and change our leaders and we should be made aware of this because our future is at stake here,” Billones said.

The GYS was held in partnership with SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls.

Billones pointed out that the youth should take time to study each of the candidates, their platforms, their track record and their integrity as public servants before voting. “We owe it upon ourselves to know each candidate and not just go with the flow. We should vote for the next leaders who have true passion and platform for the people especially the youth,” he stressed.

He also called on his fellow voters to exercise their right to vote. “What is most important here is that we vote, we exercise our right of suffrage because if we don’t we would be wasting our collective power to change the future,” he said.