Youngsters learn first-aid, responsible social media use

Around 400 youth leaders from Cebu's 51 towns and cities gathered for a three-day training workshop to develop the 2018 Youth Agenda, which include youth programs and projects.

They were convened during the first Cebu Youth Congress in a hotel in Cebu City.

The delegates are currently undergoing a series of workshops, which started yesterday and will end tomorrow, October 9.

Their sessions include skills training on basic first aid, rope techniques, and self defense. There are also seminars on bomb threat awareness, responsible usage of social media, and drug prevention education, among others.

The congress costs the Cebu provincial government almost P1.5 million, which was sourced from the funds of the organizers, namely the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), Provincial Youth Commission (PYC), and other private partners.

PYC chairperson Charlton James Canoy said the congress is a capability building activity for the Cebuano youth leaders and members, and at the same time, an avenue to explore the issues confronting young individuals.

He explained that the "Cebu Youth Agenda" focus on the needs and issues of youth individuals that would be the bases for the crafting of programs and measures.

"Dili mi makabuot-buot nga kami lang, the Provincial Board or the governor. The side of the youth should be heard," said Canoy, who promotes bottom-up approach in PYC programs.

The elected six youth commissioners were also introduced during yesterday's meeting. Each of them represents youth's sub-sectors, namely inschool, out-of-school, religious, community-based, working, and youth with special needs.

The commissioners will convene once a month and visit local government units to help ensure that the youth's needs are catered by the government since there are no incumbent Sangguniang Kabataan officers.

Community-based Commissioner Julie Ann Trinidad said that aside from the youth agenda, the participants are expected to relay their learning to their fellow youth in their respective LGUs.

Trinidad, along with other commissioners, hopes that the participants can also develop their local projects and programs where they can utilize and apply their learning from the congress.

Furthermore, Canoy said the formulated Cebu Youth Agenda will be discussed further in November during the Cebu Youth Summit.

It will be presented before the Cebuano youth and representatives from the National Youth Commission (NYC).