Ni NOEL ABUEL
Pinarangalan ni Senador Cynthia A. Villar ang ilang kabataan na naging kampeon sa paglaban sa kahirapan sa 6th Villar SiPAG Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge.
Sa isang simpleng seremonya sa Villar SIPAG ang 11 empowered youth groups winners na tumanggap ng parangal at cash.
Kasama ng senador sina dating Senate President Manny Villar, Senador Mark Villar, Deputy Speaker Camille Villar at Vistaland president Paolo Villar sa pagbibigay ng cash reward at trophy to sa mga nanalo.
Tumanggap ang bawat nagwagi sa 10 Most Outstanding Youth Social Enterprises ng P150,000 cash samantalang ang Special Awardee ay pinagkalooban ng P100,000 cash.
“This is a friendly competition among the Filipino youth whose social enterprises contribute in alleviating the poverty situation in their respective communities. Eliminating poverty requires that young people must be recognized as a resource for change in society,” ani Villar,
Sinabi nito nasa tamang direksyon ang Villar SIPAG Youth Awards dahil sa pinalalakas nito ang mga youth organizations sa bansa.
Ginagawa ring kampeon ang promosyon at pagpapanatili sa Filipino arts and culture, entrepreneurship sa agriculture, environment preservation, leadership development, health at wellness. Kaakibat din nito ang pagsusulong sa kanilang adbokasiya sa pamamagitan ng social media.
Ang mga youth organizations na binigyan ng award sa taong ito ay ang:
- Phil.Chamber of Commerce & Industry–NCR Youth Ambassadors, Muntinlupa City
- Banda San Jose, Las Piñas City
- I-Saved (Saving Vulnerable, Education & Dreams) Nabbotuan, Solana, Cagayan
- 4-H Club Yogad Kan Balada of Divinian, Jones, Isabela
- Eden(Empowering Dairy Enterprises Network) Youth Asso. San Francisco, Tarlac City
- White Light Creative Productions, Inc. Dasmariñas City, Cavite
- Ubojan Young Dreamers 4H-Club, Ubojan, Sagbayan, Bohol
- Cassava Growers & Processors Association (CAGAPA) – 4H Club of San Pedro, Dapitan City.
- Luyungan Kauyagan, Inc., ng Nasuli Bangcud, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, na nakatanggap ng kanilang supply ng fresh vegetables.
- Surigao Youth Convergence, Inc. ng Luna, Surigao City.
Binigyan naman ng special award ang Gintong Tamaraw Artists Association ng San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
Inihayag ni Villar na may 79 entries mula sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa ngunit 15 lamang ang shortlisted at 10 organisasyon ang nanalo at isa ang binigyan ng special awards.
Ang Villar SIPAG Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge ay isang kumpetisyong naglalayong hikayatin at palakasin ang youth organizations para sa social enterprises.
“This is an annual search for empowered youth organizations trying to make a significant impact in society through their advocacies, and it is now on its 6th year,” ayon kay Villar.
Binanggit din nito ang pahayag ng United Nations na “any development objective particularly in poverty reduction needs young people’s perspective given that 2/3 of the population in developing countries are under 25 years old.”
“A Youth Perspective in poverty reduction is built on the understanding that young people are not merely a target group but also initiators, participants, decision-makers and leaders,” dagdag pa ni Villar.
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