January 19, 2022 | The CEMCDO as a member of GSCOSYDA is one of the delegates to the 2022 Youth Development Alliance (YDA) Summit – the power of partnerships and convergence for OSY at Dusit Thani Residence Davao organized by USAID Opportunity 2.0 and Education Development Center
To the out-of-school youth, if you are thinking “Akala mo wala ng chance” sa YDA “Meron ka pang second chance”.
The summit aims to strengthen the capacity of respective alliances through sharing of innovations that will improve the delivery of second-chance opportunities and create a safe space for out-of-school youth from education to employment or entrepreneurship.
The General Santos City Youth Development Alliance, led by Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera, recently received three awards from USAID and EDC-USAID 02 Project during the Davao Hub Youth Development Alliance (YDA) Summit with the theme โThe Power of Partnerships and Convergence for Out-of-School Youthโ held this January 19-20, 2022, at Dusit Thani, Davao City.
The awards given were (1)Trailblazer Award – Youth-led Governance for exercising youth-driven leadership in the provision of pivotal services to benefit the lives of General Santos City youth, (2)Trailblazer Award – Networking and Advocacy for effectively collaborating with external stakeholders to advocate for transformative services for out-of-school youth in General Santos City, and (3) Convergence Award – Sustainability for institutionalizing interventions for sustainability and ensuring the equitable access of General Santos City youth to meaningful programs.
The said awards were received by CMO-Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Karl Vincent Queipo on behalf of City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera, together with the Youth Affairs and Development Officer Ms. Sahara Jho Cabreros-Flora, and SK Federation President Hon. John Salvador Demdam.
Ninety (90) representatives from at least 20 organizations and private sector partners in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Cotabato, and General Santos gathered for the Youth Development Alliance Summit held at Dusit Thani Hotel in Davao.
In his keynote speech, General Santos City Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President John Salvador Demdam said, “We can generate new and innovative ideas in a shared drive for change, true to our diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Getting things done requires the cooperation of members in our alliance.”
Among the highlights of the summit is the discussion on how to empower the youth to have a stake in their journey to self-reliance, working with line agencies and the private sector to create more opportunities for the youth, the YDA uses design thinking to learn about the youth’s needs and building their program framework so that it is responsive, inclusive, and sustainable.
In closing, O2’s Senior Education and Youth Development Advisor Dr. Miriam Pahm said, “Let us listen and explore. Let us learn and adjust. Let us link and leverage. Together, we can do whatever it takes.” (FOD)
