10 outstanding youth groups feted in 2nd Villar SIPAG Youth awards

The Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) Foundation has again acknowledged the important role of the youth sector in significantly reducing poverty in the country and improving the lives of many poor families.

In the 2nd Villar SIPAG Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge, the Foundation gave due recognition to ten (10) outstanding youth organizations for their unique and innovative solutions and undertakings to address poverty in impoverished communities.

The 10 winners were chosen from over 150 youth organizations, composed of college students and out of school adolescents aged 18 to 29 years old, which submitted their entries for the 2018 Villar SIPAG Awards for the youth category.

'I am filled with joy and pride to see the young generation of today actively helping poor communities, and the government as well, in the long-drawn battle against poverty. These young men and women have made it their responsibility to make the lives of their fellow Filipinos better, a task that the government has been failing to do for decades now,' Sen. Cynthia A. Villar said.

Villar also said: 'The task is gargantuan, but if we all work together, we will someday succeed. I am grateful to all the participants for sharing their ideas with us. I assure them that Villar SIPAG will never waiver from its commitment to work with the youth for the betterment of our country.'

Villar, Director of Villar SIPAG, her husband former Senate President Manny Villar, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar led the awarding ceremonies held at the Villar SIPAG Hall in Las Piñas City.

After thorough deliberations, studies, evaluations and validations, the following were adjudged Most Outstanding Youth Organizations: Soldiers of God (Marikina City), Sulbec 4H Club (Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte), the Circle Hostel: Tribes & Treks, and The Plastic Solution (San Felipe, Zambales), Adopt-A-Barangay: Brgy. Puray, Rodriguez, Rizal (Rodriguez, Rizal), Gubat Young Farmers Association (Gubat, Sorsogon), Tigbao 4H Club( Aroroy, Masbate), Youth First Initiative Philippines, Inc. (Iloilo City), Youthlead Philippines, Inc. (Tagbilaran City, Bohol), Monteverde 4H Club (Zamboanga City), and New Leyte National High School 4H Club (New Leyte, Maco, Compostela Valley).

Each organization received a cash prize of Php150,000 and a Villar SIPAG Awards trophy.

The Youth Poverty Reduction challenge is a competition for youth organizations that have at least three youth members and must be operating for a minimum of one year. Submitted entries were subjected to rigid evaluation, comprehensive screenings and rational project defense. Winners were selected by a panel of respected judges.

To qualify for the competition, entry undertakings should focus on food or agricultural products, recycling waste materials or agricultural waste products, green inventions/environment saving inventions/green technology, water/waste/energy solutions, rural and urban innovations, information technology and livelihood development, among other things.

Submissions were judged based on the uniqueness and originality of their concept, ability to creatively demonstrate how they will solve the poverty problem in their selected communities, flexibility to any given situation and sustainability.