The Story behind E-gnite Project
E-gnite Project was born out of a combination of pure courage, sheer luck, and intentional collaboration. Co-founders John Christian Esparagoza (Tian) and Patricka Coliflores Villaseñor (Pat) were both participants of CLAdvocates Unite!, a workshop aiming to help College of Liberal Arts Students of De La Salle University (DLSU) in actualizing their advocacies fo
r environmental awareness, quality education, mental health, human rights, and gender equality. Not knowing each other beforehand, Pat courageously approached Tian to become team members in creating a program advocating for mental health. and a quick friendship was formed! Pat and Tian freely shared their personal experiences. Pat was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and noticed the lack of group support interventions in the country for people with mental health problems. Tian, on the other hand, had witnessed the power of small group sessions in creating individual change as exhibited by ExZeed Project, a program he founded during his high school years, and his social engagements in the Makulay Project as a youth volunteer. John Christian C. Esparagoza started from Makulay Project (an organization for children), Omega Project (an initiative for the aged), ExZeed Project (a youth club for high school students), and currently for this year 2021, E-gnite Project (a collaborative youth-driven advocacy for college students). As if by sheer luck, they [Pat and Christian] realized they had the same idea - a series of peer support group sessions for DLSU students! From then on, Pat and Tian collaborated to develop this idea into a concrete project proposal. They held meetings day and night for brainstorming. And with the constructive inputs of their amazing mentor, Jillian Dominique Roxas (Jill) . . . E-gnite Project was born! The official logo for E-gnite Project was done by Mr. Pili Sayat, the Founder of the Makulay Project, and a close friend of Mr. Esparagoza. Promptly after that, E-gnite was hailed as a semi-finalist for CLAdvocates Unite! The story continues from that day forward. To be chosen as a project that will be actualized with the help of the DLSU Student Government, it had to be pitched in front of esteemed panel members. We practiced multiple times, improving the way we execute our pitch and presentation, with its result afterward we hoped to be chosen on that day. The next day, the nerve-racking result was announced! E-gnite Project was held as the champion, the chosen project to be championed by its founders, leaders, and volunteers that will be participating soon. In the days ahead...
E-gnite Project will soon open its doors to provide online peer support group sessions for students of DLSU to “reignite” human connection through online interactions. Tian and Pat envision a safe online space for college students to establish meaningful connections and receive (plus give) support. A reminder for all who read of this...
Unity, Inclusivity, Intentionality, and Spontaneity! These are the values that E-gnite will stand for.
