Program to inspire youth in their studies launched

CEBU, Philippines - In order to inspire the adolescents in the Visayas region in their studies, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in partnership with the National Youth Commission (NYC) and Department of Education (DepEd), has officially launched the Youth Development Session (YDS) program yesterday.

Herminia Cabahug, DSWD-7 officer-in-charge, said the YDS also aims to prepare the adolescents in facing the stage of adulthood.

Through YDS, Cabahug said, the children will also be guided by their parents, teachers, and social workers in dealing with the challenges and realizing their goals in life. 

YDS is a modular session designed to motivate adolescents to attend to and finish their studies. It is a parallel intervention to the Family Development Session implemented by DSWD through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Through the program, the youth are expected to be equipped with the proper knowledge, attitude and skills in facing developmental challenges, identifying available opportunities, and overcoming probable risks.

NYC Commissioner Jose Sixto “Dingdong” Dantes III reminded the youth to value their education for them to achieve their dreams for themselves and for their families. 

NYC commissioners Jo Jan Paul Peñol and Percival Cendana, 4P’s workers, 4Ps beneficiaries, and partners of DSWD in the implementation of the program also attended the Visayas-leg launching of YDS at the Abellana National School in Cebu City yesterday.

During the launching, the student beneficiaries turned over their dream boards dubbed as “Pangarap Ko, Kaya Ko” wherein they wrote down the dreams they plan to achieve in the future. 

Following the launch, break-out sessions will be conducted in a school-based setting during weekdays within class hours.

 Topics on changing body, teenage pregnancy, pornography, peer pressure, and substance abuse, among others, will be discussed. — (FREEMAN)