1st district youth leaders tackle teamwork drive, RH issues
Youth leaders in Southern Iloilo converged for the first ever “youth core group” summer camp. And it was not the usual summer camp starting off with the participants themselves serving as lecturers. It was also to be a no-charge, spirit of volunteerism gathering for the participants cum lecturers albeit all trained youth core group members.
Organized back in 2001, foremost in the advocacy of the group is the Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program (AHYDP) of the Provincial Population Office. Group members have since been honed to conduct lectures and symposium in various schools and barangays throughout the First District.
“The camp was organized primarily to gather the different batches of the trained youth core group members,” said Donel Trasporto, youth core group mover. “We call the organization Katilingban sang mga Pamatan-on sa Primer Distrito sang Iloilo (KAPAPDI). It is an avenue for us to get to know each other more and develop team work and cooperation among others.”
Trasporto was KAPAPDI president since 2002 until last month’s election of Jayzon Baldesues as current organization president.
“Then and now, we are actively pushing for responsible sexuality through making the youth aware of the changes they undergo during adolescence. Various issues and concerns, particularly the fact that the youth of today are engaged in high risk behaviors such as drug addiction, cigarettes smoking, alcoholism and pre-marital sex are discussed during AHYDP lectures,” explained Trasporto.
Conduct of lectures by the tranied core group members were pushed, Trasporto added, “because we believe that the young people will be interested more to talk about the issues they face with people of their age.”
This year’s theme was “Unleash the youthful spirit and the passion for service... brighter and hotter than the summer heat."
”These young people render volunteer services. They are not paid during lectures. The respective Population program Officers within 1st district spend for their fare and snacks, but most of the time, the schools or barangays give us snacks during said lectures and at times there are also barangays with honorarium for us to refund fare expenses,” he continued of KAPAPDI’s year-round advocacy. “Trained youth core group members from other municipalities visit other towns to conduct lecture especially if the local youth core group member is not available.”
This summer camp’s concept was deliberately designed to be not the usual training that these youth core group members undergo.
“This time it was marked with few talks, few lectures and more on outdoor activities. It was a test of team work, creativity, endurance, patience and skills. One of the activities was “YCG d Explorer,” -----a survival challenge. Group members were exposed to challenges divided into 7 stations.
Summer camp venue was the Dreamer's Valley, in Buenavista, Tigbauan, Iloilo. The place was a perfect choice with no smoking allowed, no alcohol drinking and gambling in the place as well. Floating cottages here were within the pond which used to be a creek that had core group members fishing.
First day of the summer camp had as guests speakers Regional Director Vicente “Bugoy” Molejona of the Population Commission and Reverend Father Art Ledesma from Miag-ao, Iloilo.
Discussed then was the state of the Filipino youth and the theology of the human body.
Also present to grace the summer camp activities were First District Board Member Richard Garin and Board Member Mac Napulan.
A challenge was hurled to the campers to remain committed with the organization’s vision and mission and to support the Adolescent Reproductive health program thru raising people's awareness.
Last day of summer camp saw the election of new set of KAPAPDI officer now led by Baldesues.
“Our desire is for government and other sectors to join us in our advocacy, to support our programs and maybe if there will be funds available so that we can put up a teen center which will cater for the needs of the youth,” Baldesues in his message went.
Behind KAPAPDI are Janel Tejida, Population Officer of Tigbauan and focal person AHYDP in Iloilo Province, Arby Ferraris-Mendoza of Oton, Pureza Guzman, Field Operations Officer of the Provincial Population Office-Iloilo. Also behind the organization are Edgar Voltaire Garcia of Tubungan, Teresita Turao of Igbaras, Excelsia Naria of Miag-ao, Mae Germinal of Guimbal and Trasporto as past KAPAPDI president.