Empowering the Youth thru Training cum Youth Camp

To encourage comradeship and educate the youth on adolescent sexuality, the provincial government of Cavite thru the Provincial Population Office headed by Ms. Lorena Cron and the Provincial Youth and Sports Development Office led by Ms. Mercy Gallarde, in partnership with the Commission on Population CALABARZON, facilitated the Adolescent Sexuality, Reproductive Health and Empowerment Training Cum Youth Camp at Shoreline Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran Inc., in Malainen Bago, Naic on October 26-27, 2017. More than 100 participants comprised of students, teachers and guidance counsellors from various National High Schools in the province have attended the event with the eagerness to learn the views of the youth on sexuality and reproductive health and the enthusiasm to hear the lectures on different issues concerning the youth of the new generation.

The program aims to arouse the youth’s sensibility to explore and develop their maturity which makes them more responsible and independent. The project also wants to discover the youth’s potential to be flexible on moral uprightness and alert thinking, emotional stability and social competency with favourable attitudes toward family, gender, reproductive health, sexual behaviour, and environment. It is an activity which was designed to promote consciousness and understanding of the changes (physical, social, psychological) that young people experience leading to adulthood and equip young people with basic life skills that promote their total well-being. It also helps in the reinforcement of the youth’s participation in pursuit of the government’s programs and projects.

The youth camp was designed to improve and promote the total well-being of young people on physical, mental, spiritual and social aspect including self-esteem of young people between the ages 10 and 24. According to PPO, facilitating the program helps them to reduce the incidence of reproductive health problems (Pre-Marital Sex, Teenage Pregnancy, Abortion, Early Marriage, STD, HIV/AIDs and other problems). It also strengthens the delivery of program services for young people thru coordinated and synchronized efforts of government agencies and non-government organizations or other key influential.

During the event, lectures and discussions were communicated by competent workers and speakers from different population offices and agencies. Mr. Donnie Bataclan, principal of Alfonso National High School and Mr. Vic Dihan from the Office of the Provincial Governor has motivated the audience with encouraging messages delivered for the youth. During the youth camp proper, Ms. Rachel C. Ricasata, Population Program Worker II of Rosario has discussed the topic “Why the Emphasis on Adolescent Reproductive Health?” while Ms. Eloisa R Apolinario, Population Program Officer II of the City of Bacoor has tackled the AHYD Communication Strategy. On the other hand, Ms. Herminia Austria, Population Program Officer of the City of Imus has conversed the topic “Growing Up: Things To Think About” while Responsible Parenthood was discussed  by Ms. Nenita A. Manabat of PPO Cavite. A question and answer segment was also held after the discussion to give way to queries and response. Group dynamics were also included in the program.

On the second day, Leadership and Career Development were discussed by Dr Jose R. Domingo, Jr of De La Salle University Dasmarinas while Climate Change Adaptation was explained by Ms. Maria Rhoda Periodico of PG-COPS. The attendees were also given a chance to experience a Livelihood Seminar on Perfume Making facilitated by Ms. Marivic Doles-Sigue, owner and general manager of ActiveChem Enterprises. Mr. Ruben G. Tuppal, Jr on the other hand has demonstrated the process of water bonsai making .

The seminar has covered the facts and figures on Filipino youth, journey to adolescent, growing up and things to think about, human reproductive health, sexual orientation, practical life skills, helping friends and confronting threats.