ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA—Acknowledging the need to hone the character of the youth, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) brings back the Youth Development Session (YDS) as a complementary intervention for the youth parallel to the Family Development Session (FDS).

YDS is conducted for school children in grade 7 and higher classes that is aimed at engaging with the adolescent youth, develop their strengths and interests, and prepare them for adult life.

“The program wants to facilitate the holistic growth of our youth beneficiaries to achieve optimal human development,” YDS focal, Charlene Mae Salikala said.

Salikala started coordinating with the field workers of 4Ps, the Department of Education-IX, and various secondary schools last September 2023 and restarted conducting the Youth Development Sessions in Region 9 in February this year.

It is emphasized that although the attendance to the YDS does not form part of the program conditions that need to be complied by the beneficiaries in order to receive grants, it is highly recommend to be attended by the youth mainly for reasons that may help strengthen their relationship with their parents; explore new personal, social, and sexual roles and identities; transform peer relationships into deeper friendships; and aid in their participation to activities that may facilitate future economic independence.

For the month of May, the topic explored in YDS module is about the intricacies of changing bodies brought about by puberty. This module will help the adolescent kids to understand the changes that occur in their bodies and how to deal with it.

Other than building a strong-willed and self-aware 4Ps youngsters, the program also sees the YDS as an avenue to reduce risky behaviours, remove deterrents, enhance opportunities, and develop life skills on issues and challenges faced by the Filipino youth which may include but not limited to teenage pregnancy, cyber-bullying, online harassment, and other forms of sexual activity, entrepreneurship, and employability, etc.

Recently, the 4Ps regional management also conducted Focused-Group Discussions (FGD) among selected children and youth across Zamboanga Peninsula to better understand the challenges that hinder them to excel and/or participate in school. The FGD provided insights as to the needs of the youth that may be considered by the social workers to base their interventions on.

With the reinstitution of the YDS, the DSWD-4Ps is hopeful that many generational issues in the locality will be addressed and that societal problems will be reduced.

As of to date, 18 municipalities from Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga Del Sur, and Zamboanga Del Norte and 6 districts in Zamboanga City have already conducted the YDS. This will be a regular activity of the 4Ps under its Case Management component.

YDS conducted at Catituan National High School and Dionisio Lopez Sr. National High School in Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay