Written by Robin Charles O. Ramos
VYLH-Philippines Mindanao, K4
The Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is an
annual international gathering of young volunteers spearheaded by Youth Service
America (YSA). The event is conducted every April and is celebrated in more
than 135 countries. It is dedicated to children and the youth and is claimed to
be the largest service event in the world, since its establishment in 1988. For
four years now, the Voice of the Youth Network (VOTY) is the chosen campaign
partner in the Philippines.
In celebration of this year’s GYSD, the VOTY
Network launched its first ever youth-led award giving body― the VOTY Awards.
The citation is created to recognize deserving young individuals and youth-led
and youth-serving organizations in the country that provide positive social
change and share the same passion in serving the Filipino youth.
The Volunteer Youth Leaders for
Health-Philippines (VYLH-Philippines) is a recipient of one of the prestigious awards given
during the VOTY Network Kabataan Night 4: The Youth Revolution. This is
a trademark activity where over 300 youth and youth organizations showcased their
talents through literary-musical variety shows and various performing arts. It
was held on May 4, 2014 at Mabuhay Restop, Rizal Park, Manila City. The three
health advocacies of VYLH-Philippines are applauded by the VOTY Network as one
of the Outstanding Health Awareness Projects of the year.
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| VYLH-Philippines' Programs recognized as one of the Outstanding Health Awareness Projects of the Year |
VYLH-Philippines is a network of more than 100 youth organizations in universities and communities nationwide. The main goal of the organization is to create a network of youth leaders and youth organizations in schools and communities in the Philippines who will champion in increasing public awareness on existing health programs, and on the significance of healthy lifestyle at an early age.
The Network engages in three flagship advocacies
namely: increasing awareness among women in their
reproductive age on the significance of folic acid supplementation in the prevention
of birth defects; increasing public awareness in saving babies from mental
retardation and death through newborn screening; and lobbying public support
for the urgent passage of the Rare Disease Act - an act addressing the needs of
patients with rare orphan disorders.
The
recognition received by the VYLH-Philippines is an inspiration in fostering
strong partnerships with other youth-led and youth-serving organizations, as
well as, advancing its advocacy to train young leaders, empowering them for
health and improving birth outcomes through advocacy. This achievement is also
joined by the recently concluded youth leaders’ orientations in CAR, NCR,
Southern Tagalog and Central Visayas.
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Robin Charles Ramos is a Master in Business Administration graduate of the Cor Jesu College in Digos City, Davao del Sur. He is also an alumnus of South Philippine Adventist College where he completed his degree in Business Administration. Robin became affiliated to the network during the 2010 Mindanao Island-wide Youth Camp.
Photo Credit: Romer Guerbo
Editor: Christine Queribin, Ryan Pascual
Photo Credit: Romer Guerbo
Editor: Christine Queribin, Ryan Pascual
