GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF

UNLAD KABATAAN PROGRAM (UKP)

 The Integrated Human Resource Developmental Program for Youth (IHRDPY) under Administrative Order No. 48 issued in 1974, provides developmental, remedial and preventive services to the Out-of-School Youth through its three major areas: 1. Self-Employment Assistance Program 2. Social Awareness and Community Responsibility 3. Special Services

 To be relevant and consistent with the current situation of the out-ofschool youth and other disadvantaged youth as well as youth program trends and development, the IHRDPY has been enriched. Henceforth, the program title shall be changed to Unlad Kabataan to facilitate recall.

I. RATIONALE:
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), is mandated to care, protect, rehabilitate and empower the socially, economically and physically disadvantaged sectors. Hence, the DSWD developed a program of services that will bring into reality what Article II, Section 13 of the Philippines Constitution envisages for the Filipino youth.

 IHRDPY was launched in 1973. It has been proven effective and has gained international recognition in the Asian region. Numerous countries look up to this program as a model in harnessing the resources of the less fortunate Filipino youth. In fact, there are many former youth leaders who occupy respectable positions in the community today.

 However, we are now in the third millennium, there are new development concerns which have surfaced, like:
- Child Rights - Adolescent Sexuality and Health - Gender Awareness and Environment These contemporary issues need to be incorporated in the present program for out-of-school youth.

II. THE PROGRAM:

The Unlad Kabataan Program for Youth is geared towards the total development of the disadvantaged youth in terms of his/her spiritual, economic, physical, psychological, cultural and social development. Although the individual is dependent on the family for nurturance, protection and guidance; his/her social obligation is into confined to the family and immediate community.

A. The Program Goal:

To promote the development of the outof-school youth and other disadvantaged youth to become selfreliant, economically productive, and socially responsible citizens able to contribute to the development of their family and community.

3. To strengthen basic, social, moral and cultural values, enhance social functioning, develop human responsible of the youth for the betterment of his/her family and community. 4. To provide special services for the protection, rehabilitation and training of youth with special needs as those who are alienated, delinquent, neglected, abused, exploited, those with disabilities, and those in cultural communities. 5. To maintain a program of collaboration and cooperation with government and nongovernment agencies for the youth in all sectors and at all levels in the community.

Objectives:
To encourage, facilitate and create opportunities for self-expression and attainment of proper attitudes and behavior among the youth for selffulfillment and social awareness.

To engage the youth in various activities that will promote their social and economic developmental such as food production, volunteer community service, health and nutrition, population awareness, protection and conservation of natural resources and improvement of the natural environment.

B. Target Clientele

The target are the OSYs and other disadvantaged youth who are aged 15 to 24 years old and single.

C. Program Strategies
1. Organization of Pag-Asa Youth Association

The PYA is organized in every barangay where there is incidence of OSY and other disadvantaged youth. PYAs are federated at the barangay, city/municipal regional and national levels to promote networking and unit at various levels
2. Development of Peer Support System

Considering the credibility and influence of the peers in the life of the youth, selected Youth Development Leaders who have the interest, willingness and capability to serve as peer counselors, educators and advocates for positive lifestyle, environment, Convention on the Rights of the Child, etc., are trained to assist the youth

D. Program Components Core Interventions

Being preventive and developmental, the program is designed to provide opportunities for the development of the potentials of the OSYs and other disadvantaged youth. Below are the 3 components: 1. Economic Productivity 1.1 Sulong Dunong Through the Sulong Dunong the economically disadvantaged youth are provided access to :

a) formal , vocational or technical skills training will qualify them for open employment or self-employment to enable them to venture in livelihood projects/activities

1.2 Personality Enhancement and Positive Lifestyle Promotion Youth groups interested in open or selfemployment are required to attend the preemployment and business management seminar which aims to build the employment marketability of those who prefer open employment and to enhance the entrepreneurial capability of the businessoriented youth.

2. Personality Enhancement and Positive Lifestyle Promotion The youth are in transition from childhood to adulthood. Acquisition of knowledge, skills, positive attitudes and values are critical at this period. Hence, the PYA members undergo training in the following capabilitybuilding activities:

2.1 PAFLO ( Population Awareness and Family Life Orientation)

The youth are oriented on the concepts of population dynamics, human growth and development, family life, responsible parenthood, life planning and decision-making.

PAFLO aims to provide the OSYs and other disadvantaged youth knowledge and understanding of the implications of high population growth rate to national development and inculcate positive Filipino family values and development commitment to responsible parenthood.

2.2 Positive Lifestyle Promotion

The lifestyle of a person is a cluster of habits of a person is formed during adolescence and early adulthood. Experimentation in substance use and smoking, sexual initiation and other risk-taking behavior may occur at this stage, usually with peer influence and approval. Given access to information and chance to discuss implications with his/her peer, safe and clean lifestyle is promoted. Environment and gender awareness, adolescent health, and positive coping skills are discuss to facilitate formation of responsible behavior.

2.3 Socio-cultural, Spiritual and Physical Development The youth are encouraged to initiate to participate in indigenous community activities which promote socio-cultural, spiritual and physical development which are organized by the youth association in coordination with other groups.

- Youth/recreational Camps Community Scouting Flores de Mayo Santacruzan Way of the Cross Sportfest Fluvial Parade Bible Study Youth Encounter. - Musical band, cultural dance troupe and community theater groups may also be organized to develop/utilize talents in the community entertainment, education and advocacy.

3. Leadership Training and Social Responsibility

To optimize the leadership potentials of PYA officers and members they are given basic training in
1. Peer counseling which promotes positive lifestyle 2. Project Management 3. Disaster Preparedness and Management

1. Social Responsibility Enrichment

The following are the activities geared towards building the capability of the OSY and other disadvantaged youth to improve their sense of social responsibility

- Volunteer Community Service * Immersion Outreach Program * Weekend Youth Brigade * Government internship Program - Youth/Peer Support Service - Youth advocacy

POLICIES: PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND ORGANIZATION OF PYA

UKP shall be made accessible to the OSYs and other disadvantaged youth in the barangay, through the Youth Service Providers.
The organization of the youth into local Pag-Asa Youth Association (PYA) is a major strategy in the delivery of services, because the youth at this stage are greatly influenced by the peer group. Moreover, the PYA serves as a training ground for leadership, team and community building.

1. The PYA shall be organized in barangay/districts with high incidence of OSYs 2. A minimum of 15 and a maximum of 25 members are suggested to ensure manageability and participation of members
3. Only OSY are qualified to become PYA Officers and Chairpersons of Committee. The in-school youth may join as members. If the officer become in-school before the end of his/her term he/she has to serve until the term of office is completed.

Each PYA shall not have more than seven (7) officers which shall consist of President, VPresident, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, Business Manager and Public Relations Officer.
This is to ensure that with a group of 15, there are more members (8) than officers. The PYA is federated at the city, municipal, provincial, regional and national levels. To distinguish PYAs from each other, the name chosen by the members is prefixed to PYA.

STEPS IN ORGANIZING PYA IN BARANGAY LEVEL

4 Stages of Organizing the PYA: 1. Pre-organizing 2. Organizing 3. Stabilizing 4. Limited Supervision for YSP

The ff. steps are suggested to facilitate PYA Organization in barangays

1. Pre-Organizing (1st Month) - Identification of priority barangay - Courtesy call with the barangay chairperson - Initial contacts and informal information dissemination/data gathering with youth leaders; recruitment of core group to assist in calling for meeting (and other social preparation activities); immersion of YSP - Community Assembly (Parents and Youth) - Initial meeting with OSYs

2.

Organizing (beginning 2nd month) - Organizational Meeting - Work and Financial Planning Meeting (from 3rd week and 2nd month) - Monthly meeting (beginning 3rd month

3. Group Maintenance - Capability-building activities 4. Preparation for Minimal Supervision for Youth Service Provider - Preparatory activities - Evaluation of PYA sustainability

GUIDE IN CONDUCTING PYA MEETINGS AND INFORMATION EDUCATION SESSIONS

1. Before conducting the first meeting, make sure that the ff. have been accomplished: - contacted barangay officials 2. Conducted community survey, and prepared the socio-demographic profile of the community 3. Conducted a community assembly, interviewed prospective PYA members and accomplished Intake Forms.

2. Each meeting has a set of objectives, agenda, activities and expected output.
3. The meetings under Module I and II should be conducted in the sequence as indicated to facilitate formation of group bond. 4. During the first 5 meetings a potential youth leader should already be trained by the YSP to facilitate the meeting. The YDL should be oriented to the Guide and provided with copy for his own use and reference. 5. Module I and II should be facilitated by the YSP

6.

It is very important to consider that some meetings under Module III can be interchanged depending on the progress and needs of the group. Therefore, it is not necessary that the meetings be conducted in sequence as presented under the suggested topics and context.

7.

In case of an old group which has been reactivated, a thorough assessment shall be conducted by the YSP to guide them in identifying the appropriate topics/activities that will meet their present needs/.
Resource person shall be invited whenever appropriate.

8.

9. A written record of meetings and discussions (minutes) should always be accomplished to be ready before the next meeting is called.
10. Recycle modules 1 and 2 in meeting with new members. Module 3 and 4 can be recycled for old members. 11. The YSPs should follow-up the youth groups who have completed the four modules at least once in every 3 months

12. The PYA Federation Officers are encouraged to follow-up projects and activities of youth groups belonging to their federation.

13. Refer to Volume 3 (PAFLO) and 4 (Positive Lifestyle Promotion) of UKP Manual in conducting other informationeducation group session.

An interaction with OSYs during the Symposium on the Implications of Early Marriages/Pregnancies

PYAP President as one of the Philippine delegates to the SEAYPP 2006

PYAP NATIONAL PRESIDENT is from Nabunturan, Comval Province.