FROM August 19 to 21, the United States Peace Corps and the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) hosted the second “Youth Volunteerism Workshop” in Subic, Zambales, bringing together over a hundred Peace Corps Volunteers and their Filipino counterparts to promote active youth participation in community development.
Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), this year’s workshop trained 41 Peace Corps Volunteers, 82 Filipino volunteers, and youth leaders on various volunteerism strategies, including recruiting techniques, building and managing connections, developing volunteerism frameworks, creating action plans, and sharing of best practices on networking and collaboration. Utilizing a “train the trainers” model, the workshop is projected to reach 10,000 youth.
“I am excited to see how this year’s participants will replicate and scale up the success of their facilitators, reaching more youth, especially those who are currently out of school or at risk of dropping out,” USAID Philippines Deputy Education Director Yvette Malcioln said in her opening remarks.
After the workshop, participants will lead peer education in their own communities, focusing on key themes such as youth mental health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and adolescent sexual reproductive health. Other topics include life skills, environment and climate change, academic tutorials, and additional subjects based on their community’s needs.
“I encourage participants to continue to carry the torch of volunteerism high, nurturing the flame of compassion and dedication as they return to their communities,” PNVSCA Executive Director Donald James Gawe said.
Last year’s workshop trained 12 Peace Corps Volunteers and their Filipino counterparts, who then imparted their knowledge to 160 youth leaders, reaching 5,000 youth from 14 municipalities in Luzon and Visayas.
To date, more than 300 individuals have been trained through the Youth Volunteerism Project. This initiative is part of Peace Corps Philippines’ broader Host Country Volunteerism program, supported by PNVSCA, which seeks to strengthen and institutionalize volunteerism in the Philippines.| – KN
