The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), in close partnership with the Pag-asa Youth Association (PYAP), continues to foster youth development through a series of initiatives.
These initiatives include Basic Management Training (BMT), EPAFLO or Enhanced Population Awareness and Family Life Orientation, and Leadership Training, among others.
Jeffrey John Sison, Focal Person of CSWDO’s Youth Welfare Program, in an interview with city-owned Davao City Disaster Radio, said that the BMT mostly caters to the out-of-school youth (OSY).
The BMT equips participants in planning, organization, and effective decision-making—critical attributes for aspiring business owners.
The EPAFLO, on the other hand, is designed to address pressing issues in the community, such as teenage pregnancy, by educating the young on healthier alternatives and responsible behavior.
“At least naay ideas ang kabataan nga dili magbuhat sila og mga ingon ani nga mga butang, nga dili diay dapat buhaton (At least they will have ideas on what they should and shouldn’t do),” he said.
Complementing these efforts are the Positive Lifestyle workshops, which promote a holistic approach to the well-being of the youth, emphasizing balanced physical, health, mental wellness, and untrusting of positive daily habits.
The CSWDO also continues to hold leadership training initiatives aimed at nurturing self-awareness and personal growth, ensuring that the youth will serve as catalysts for positive change in their communities.
Sison said they also have the Educational Development Assistance (EDA) program, which provides academic support to underprivileged students, with the first semester recording 607 beneficiaries.
The CSWDO also organizes Sociocultural and Recreational Activities (SCRA) to identify and develop the talents of Davao’s youth.
Sison said that these programs are open to young individuals aged 15 to 24 years old, and even up to 30 for single participants.
“Mao man gyod na ang gina-target sa CSWDO nga mamahimong self-reliant ang atoang mga kliyente [youth] (That is exactly what CSWDO is aiming for, to make our youth self-reliant),” he said.
He also encourages all eligible youth to actively participate in these initiatives and engage with local activities spearheaded by the CSWDO. CIO