By Emmanuel D. Taghoy
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Youth
Development Sessions (YDS) program of Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD)-9 was launched here recently at the Zamboanga City National
High School (ZCNHS)-main campus in collaboration with the National Youth
Commission (NYC) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
More than 800 high school students, who are
beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) underwent
various sessions of the YDS.
YDS is a parallel intervention of DSWD to the
Family Development Sessions (FDS) targeted for high school
student-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya.
DSWD-9 Regional Director Zenaida Arevalo said
the program is a modular session that aims to motivate the adolescents in
attending and finishing their education.
“The YDS shall help the adolescents be
equipped with appropriate knowledge, attitude, and skills to developmental
challenges, see available opportunities, and overcome possible risks to aid
them in achieving optimal and holistic development,” she explained.
The intended topics for the YDS include
adolescent dynamics, sexuality, career, life, and skills, among others.
According to Arevalo, these topics are envisioned to address the challenges
faced by Filipino adolescents such as teen pregnancy, reproductive health,
decision-making, peer-pressure, dangerous drugs, pornography and other issues.
Director Arevalo said the YDS will be
implemented nationwide in all Pantawid Pamilya areas, to all high school
beneficiaries monitored by the program.
After the launching, the YDS will be rolled
out with NYC until January 2016. It will be conducted in a school-based setting
during weekdays within class hours.
Mr. Jesus Solon, secondary school principal of
ZCNHS-main expressed his gratitude to DSWD-9 and the rest of the partner
agencies for choosing the school as the venue for the launch. “I am optimistic
that the YDS program will provide better motivation for the students to finish
their studies and reach their goals,” he said.