Reaching Out to the Out-of-School Youth

(A Poster Series Campaign)

Group 4 Cabildo, Celine Fernandez, Russelle Justine Ferrer, Joanna Henson, Patricia Pamittan, Vanessa Valenzuela, Roy

I.

OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH IN THE PHILIPPINES

Getting access to basic primary education remains a great challenge in the Philippines. According to the 2010 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS), 16% or 6.24 million of the total 39 million Filipinos (aged 6-24 years old) are out-of-school youth (OSY). The government defines out-ofschool youth as children who are not attending formal school and/or not gainfully employed (in cases of 18-24 year olds) and who have not finished college or even a technical-vocational course. Studies on the current student dropout rates show that out of 10 students entering Grade 1, 66% would eventually finish Grade 6; 43% would graduate in high school; but only 20% would successfully finish college. Based on statistics, 80% of the 55 million considered out of school youth are unable to fully attain the right to education in the Philippines today. Access has been notably lower among younger children (3-4), especially boys and among rural children. The main reasons given by OSY for not attending school are poverty and the lack of personal interest to learn. Though basic education is provided free, essential needs such as food, shelter, clothing, plus transportation and other incremental expenses in schools made it unaffordable for many. Other reasons include: 1. Incapable Government 2. Unsupportive Parents 3. Bad Peer Pressure 4. Distant Parents 5. Child Labor 6. Bad Environment 7. Teacher Factor 8. Laziness Most OSY end up finding jobs in any way possible. They either collect garbage and sell it, or beg for money on the streets. Due to lack of guidance and support of their parents and their schools, these children tend to get involved with vices such as rugby, smoking, gambling, etc. Thus, they end up spending their hard-earned money in useless things instead of spending it for education. To address the alarming increase in the number of OSY, government and private organizations have implemented programs to help these children. One such organization is the Outreach Asia. Founded in 2000 by Mike and Gina Peck, Outreach Asia is a non-profit, charity organization that endeavors to improve the impoverished lives of children and families living in the developing countries of Southeast Asia. It provides over 95% of all donations to directly benefit those in need. It also offers child sponsorships that allow sustainable health, nutrition and environmental sanitation, early child care and development, family life development, and educational support. Its program, GEMS Fund, helps in educating children who cannot afford to go to school. Currently, recent donations have been benefiting communities in Vietnam and the Philippines.

II.

CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVE

Our campaign aims to make people aware that the better option is to donate directly to organizations for out of school youth such as the Outreach Asia, which would provide them education for a better future, instead of doling out money that simply keep these children in the state of poverty. III. CAMPAIGN STRATEGY

Through a series of hand-drawn posters, we plan to persuade the public to help the out-ofschool youth sustain themselves by donating to the GEMS Fund program of the Outreach Asia. Most of the time, the spare change we give to children in the streets are only spent in their gambling and other bad vices. We want to tell the audience that there is a better and more assuring way to help these out-of-school youth get an education by donating their money to the program of the Outreach Asia. This way, their money will be used to educate these OSY and not merely wasted on vices. To show this, we used the idea of a scratch card in the posters. In the foreground, a hand holding a coin is shown. Then an oval with one side scratched (good) and the other side unscratched (bad) is in the background. This part shows the good and bad things that the coin or money can be spent on. Educational items such as books, school bag, and a pencil are placed on the scratched side which represents what will happen to the money when donated to the Outreach Asia. The unscratched side on the other hand shows what will happen to the money when given directly to beggar children. Items used in gambling and bad vices such as cards, rugby, and cigarette are placed on this side. Change in the copy "spare change" can either mean the small amount of money we hand out as donations, or making a difference. Instead of keeping the out-of-school youth in a cycle of poverty by simply sparing change or "barya", we need to help them achieve sustainable development.

IV.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Our posters appeal to anyone who has the capacity, means, or desire to donate to the program of the Outreach Asia for out-of-school youth.

V.

CONCLUSION
The poor cannot simply remain dependent on the donations of others. Through education, they

are being taught to stand on their own and break from the cycle of poverty. Donations are only a temporary aid but if we help the impoverished get an education, they will be able to fend for themselves for a lifetime and even become a valuable contributor to the betterment of the society.

References: Outreach Asia (http://www.outreachasia.org/id8.html) UNICEF Philippines (http://www.unicef.org/philippines/8900.html) (February 23, 2011) Top 10 Reasons Why There Is Out Of School Youth In The Philippines. Retrieved September 12, 2012, from http://reasonoutofschoolyouth.blogspot.com http://kabataanpartylist.com/blog/6-million-out-of-school-youths-should-promptgov%E2%80%99t-to-increase-education-budget-%E2%80%93-youth-solon/ Mabunga, Renato G. (December 13, 2011). Accessibility, Affordability, & Quality of Philippine Education [2011 Right to Education Situation: Philippines (2nd of 3 series)]. Free Zone. Retrieved September 12, 2012, from http://renatomabunga.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/accessibilityaffordability-quality-of-philippine-education-2011-right-to-education-situation-philippines-2ndof-3-series/