The Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) Foundation acknowledged the youth sector’s important role 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 10 outstanding youth organizations for their unique and innovative solutions and undertakings to address poverty in impoverished communities.
The winners were chosen from over 150 youth organizations, composed of college students and out-of-school adolescents aged 18 to 29, who submitted their entries for the youth category of the 2018 Villar SIPAG Awards.
“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,” Senator Cynthia Villar said.
“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.”
“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 added.
The veteran legislator, 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 careful 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 P150,000 cash prize 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 in operation 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.
To qualify for the competition, entries 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.
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.
