by Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Members of the Out-of-School Youth Development Alliance (OSYDA) set coordination arrangements and commitments to help the sector improve and become productive members of the society.
At the first meeting of the OSYDA of Isabela City last July 2, government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) have confirmed their roles and functions identified during the March vision-mission for OSY workshop to support the Mindanao Youth for Development (MYDev) program of the USAID.
These roles and functions will be translated into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for each member-agency and organization to be signed by August this year.
Robinson M. Wee of MYDev has expressed his appreciation over the interest and enthusiasm of the OSYDA members on helping the out-of-school youth become better and productive persons in society.
He also cited the local government of Isabela for taking the lead in the pursuit of five-year MYDev goals in the region. He said the OSYDA in Isabela is the first in region 9 to call for a maiden meeting of the alliance.
However, it took quite some months for the alliance to convene since the March 4 workshop.
“During those months that the alliance hasn’t met, we are doing some preparatory activities in the 20 selected communities and or barangays in Isabela. And we have done some capability- building with our personnel and our instructional managers and other staff that are needed to implement the initial round of OSY programs,” Wee said.
City Administrator Ramon Nuñal has expressed concern over the increasing number of OSY in Isabela and challenged the member-agencies to create and implement more action-oriented activities for the OSY.
He was hoping that an OSY would sit as member of the alliance so that firsthand information as to their status and concerns could be directly heard.
Also at the meeting, the Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. (NFI) was formally introduced as the service provider of the MYDev program. NFI Executive Director Miriam Suacito updated the alliance on the initial implementation of the project in the identified barangays.
NFI reported that target OSYs were already identified, including the type of training that the OSYs wanted.
Difficulties in completing the target number of OSYs has been a challenge for the NFI as some OSYs refused to enroll in the training program for various reasons—could not give time due to work, domestic concerns, lack of self-esteem/shyness, and some did not meet the required age as prescribed by the program.
To complete the target number, NFI recruited from other barangays not identified as priority area for the MYDev.
Among the priority barangays are Tabiawan, Busay, Sta. Barbara, Diki, Kapatagan Grande, Kapatagan Jutay, Carbon, Cabunbata, Sunrise, Baluno, Kumalarang, and Masola. These barangays are recipients of either the Alternative Learning System classes for OSYs or livelihood training on horticulture, food processing, dressmaking, and aquaculture.
To provide holistic approach and to support NFI and MYDev, the alliance has discussed the draft memorandum of understanding where each member-agency’s commitment and role are stipulated.
MYDev is a peace and stability development project financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The OSYDA serves as a local body to institutionalize the participation of all sectors in addressing OSY issues and concerns and in identifying the appropriate program interventions for OSYs through planning, direction-setting and mobilizing resources to support OSY programs and services.