Network Milestones

Accomplishments

  • In the span of six years (2009-2015), VYLH-Philippines has trained 650 volunteer youth leaders representing 195 youth organizations, 123 higher education institutions and 87 communities nationwide.
    • Through the years, VYLH-Philippines has established a network of youth leaders with a wide-range of students involved. Health and non-health students (e.g. Engineering, Computer Science, Business Administration, and Communication Arts) have worked together and contributed equally to the success of the network.
  • Members of VYLH-Philippines have continuously developed print and accessible online resource materials; designed communication tools and strategies; organized community and school lectures, symposia, and exhibits.
    • VYLH-Philippines has created and maintained a website, blog and other social media platforms that allowed the public to access information and updates about the network and its advocacies and download campaign-related materials.
    • VYLs together with technical partners from the Institute of Human Genetics-NIH, UP Manila developed the Folic Acid Campaign Brochure and Awareness Assessment test.
    • VYLs from Ateneo de Zamboanga University have developed a springboard module entitled “Baby Making 101” for the presentation and discussion of the advocacy on birth defects among students and other target participants. The interactive learning activity wherein participants are asked about the preferred physical attributes of a first-born highlights birth defects care and prevention.
    • VYLs from Dumaguete City initiated “Jam for Life” – a community activity wherein the three flagship advocacies of the network were presented in a night of music and inspiration.
    • The network has also pioneered youth-led on ground and social media activities such as the “NBS (Newborn Screening) Hour” and “WorldBDday Thunderclap Hour”, “Schools For Rare” and the “I am Rare” worry-free and fun day outreach activity for rare diseases patients and their guardians.
  • Members of the network have also successfully lobbied for the issuance of policies related to the advocacies of the network at the local and national level.
    • VYLH-Philippines actively participated and led the youth in lobbying the immediate passage and deliberation of the Rare Disease Bill through a signature campaign. Volunteers also attended public hearings at the Senate and Congress, and roundtable discussion with stakeholders and concerned agencies.
    • In 2010, A local resolution adopting the provisions of the proposed Rare Disease Act of the Philippines in Santiago City was issued through the efforts of a pioneer volunteer in collaboration with local legislators.
    • In 2011, a Sanggunian Kabataan (Local Youth Council) Resolution supporting the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health and its advocacy implementation in Masao, Butuan City was issued through the efforts and lobbying of a VYLH Member.
    • In 2012, a volunteer lobbied for the issuance of a resolution calling the DILG and DOH to strengthen the maternal -, child- and youth-friendly health services in all health centers in the Philippines, and mainstreaming the importance of Folic acid supplementation and newborn screening to prevent neural tube defects and mental retardation during the 9th National Youth Parliament organized by the National Youth Commission.
  • The network actively participates in local and international observances related to the youth and the advocacies of the network such as National Rare Disease Week, World Rare Disease Day, National Pregnant Women’s Day, and National Newborn Screening Week. Recently, the network has established partnerships with professional societies, national government agencies, civil society groups, and youth organizations for the observance and promotion of World Prematurity Day and World Birth Defects Day in the Philippines.
    • VYLH-Philippines was the lead youth organization during the first observance of World Birth Defects Day in the Philippines (WorldBDday 2016). The network was able to mobilize 21 student organizations, councils and alliances for the event.
    • The network is an active partner in the annual observance of National Rare Disease Week, World Rare Disease Day and National Newborn Screening Awareness Week.
    • In separate locations across the country, VYLs have participated in the National Pregnant Women’s Day (Pambansang Araw ng mga Buntis) activities.
    • Various materials were also prepared and made available online for World Prematurity Day - the global campaign for preterm birth awareness and prevention.
    • The network has also established partnerships with local agencies and professional organizations:
      • DOH Regional Offices (former Centers for Health Development)
      • Newborn Screening Reference Center
      • Newborn Screening Centers (NIH, Central Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao)
      • Philippine Society for Orphan Disorders
      • Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society
      • Philippine Society for Newborn Medicine
  • Aside from its year-round health promotion and advocacy projects, the network has also conducted national leadership congresses, orientations and youth camps for the recruitment and training of volunteer youth leaders.
    • The National Leadership Congress (held in 2011, 2012, and 2013) aims to strengthen the network; re-commission the volunteer youth leaders; update members about program developments and plans; discuss relevant and timely health issues; assess of the progress of the network; and identify best practices that can be standardized and adapted by the network.
    • Through the National Leadership Congress, the network was able to elect its officers and develop its Constitution and By-laws, Membership Guidelines, and Program Implementation Guidelines.
  • VYLH-Philippines has also participated and presented the network’s programs and achievements in various local and international conferences.
    • Three international conferences: International Conference on Birth Defects and Disabilities in the Developing World (2013), International Young Food and Nutrition Leadership Training and Workshop (2014) and the Asian Congress of Nutrition (2015).
    • In 2012, VYLH-Philippines joined the National Conference on the Engagement of the Academe on Volunteerism (NCEAV) organized by VSO Bahginan at Miriam College. A talk entitled "Volunteers in Health: The VYLH-Philippines and IHG-UP Manila Experience" was presented by the network's co-founding adviser, Dr. Merlyn Mendioro. The network also had an exhibit/booth during the event. The NCEAV was participated by various universities, colleges and volunteer organizations.
    • In 2015 alone, five local conferences were attended by the network: Cordillera Youth Congress (January), Global Youth Summit-Manila (March), 13th National Newborn Screening Convention (October), 1st Colleges and Universities Public Service Conference (November) and 1st CARAGA Newborn Screening Convention (November).
  • In 2014, VYLH-Philippines Programs were recognized by the Voice of the Youth Network as one of the Outstanding Health Awareness Projects in celebration of Global Youth Service Day.

Network Milestones (By Year)

2019

  • 4th National Leadership Congress
  • CARAGA Regional Camp
  • Launch of VYLH-Philippines Webinars

2018 Batch Hayaw (v. rise)

  • Western Visayas Regional Camp
  • CAR Youth Volunteers Summit
  • Central Luzon Youth Volunteers Summit
  • Central Visayas Regional Camp

2017 Batch Kalilintad (n. peace)

  • K4Health Project was recognized as one of the Top 20 finalists in the search for Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO 14)
  • K4Health Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro
  • K4Health Palauig, Zambales
  • Participation to ICBD in Bogota, Colombia

2016 Batch Kabilin (n. legacy)

Read the full 2016 Year-ender Report of VYLH-Philippines

  • International Partner Organization and one of the coordinating organizations for World Birth Defects Day 2016 - the first formal observance of the event in the Philippines.
  • Western Visayas Youth Camp (April 9-10)
  • CARAGA Youth Camp
  • NCR-SL Youth Camp
  • Launch of K4Health: Kabataang Kabalikat ng Komunidad para sa Kalusugan Project in Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija
  • Launch of Project Kabilin Kalusugan (Proactive Kabilin) in Los Banos, Laguna
  • Launch of #FolicAcidPH, the National Social media day for Folic acid Awareness

2015 Batch Hiraya (n. vision)

Read the full 2015 Year-ender Report of VYLH-Philippines

  • Youth camps and orientations were held in Central Visayas, NCR, CAR, Central Luzon, and CARAGA. New volunteer youth leaders were enlisted to Batch Hiraya
  • Participation to the First CARAGA Newborn Screening Convention (Speaking Engagement)
  • Participation to the First Colleges and Universities Public Service Conference (CUPSCon) (Speaking Engagement)
  • Two volunteers were selected to the NAST Future Health Leaders Workshop
  • Participation to the 13th National Newborn Screening Convention (Speaking Engagement)
  • Participation to the 12th Asian Congress of Nutrition (Poster Presentation, Japan)
  • Participation to the Global Youth Summit (Manila)
  • Participation to the Cordillera Youth Congress held at Baguio City last January 7 and 8.
  • Participation to the NAST-DOST Science Legislative Forum on Rare Diseases
  • Participation to the NAST Round Table Discussion on Folic Acid
  • Spearheaded the Raise your Hands for Rare campaign in celebration of National Rare Disease Week and International Rare Disease Day
  • VYLH-Philippines UP Manila spearheads "I am Rare", a one-day fun-filled activity for children with rare diseases.
  • Articles featuring VYLH-Philippines were published in Metro Society magazine and Health Ripples, the UP Manila Health and Life magazine.

2014 Batch E4 (Educate. Empower. Engage. Experience)

  • Participation to the NAST Round Table Discussion on Rare Diseases
  • Launch of the VYLH-Philippines and PSOD Change.org Online Petition Site
  • Voice of the Youth Award
  • Participation in IYouLead (Indonesia)
  • First VYLH-Philippines Regional Camp in the Visayas
  • Regional Caravan in CAR
  • NYC Registration/YORP Accreditation.

2013

  • Third National Leadership Congress
  • International Conference on Birth Defects and Disability in the Developing World

2012 Batch I3 (Inform. Inspire. Involve)

  • Juan for Rare
  • Buntis Day
  • Second National Leadership Congress
  • VYLH-Philippines Bohol
  • First VYLH-Philippines National Awards
  • PSOD Recognizes VYLH-Philippines Activities
  • Ratification of the VYLH-Philippines Constitution
  • election of second set of national officers
  • VYLH-Philippines joined the National Conference on the Engagement of the Academe on Volunteerism (NCEAV) organized by VSO Bahginan at Miriam College last December 6-7, 2012. A talk etitled "Volunteers in Health: The VYLH-Philippines and IHG-UP Manila Experience" was presented by the network's co-founding adviser, Dr. Merlyn Mendioro. The network also had an exhibit/booth during the event. The NCEAV was participated by various universities, colleges and volunteer organizations.

2011

  • First National Leadership Congress
  • Election of First Set of National Officers
  • First VYLH-Philippines Regional Camp
  • Newborn Screening Hour
  • Launch of Youth for Health, the official online publication of VYLH-Philippines. The initial template of the blog was designed by UP Mindanao volunteer Renz Bulseco. Submitted articles to blog were also published in Newborn Screening. the official newsletter of the Newborn Screening Reference Center (NSRC) of the National Institutes of Health - University of the Philippines Manila.

2010 Batch K4 (Kabataan Kabalikat ng Kinabukasan para sa Kalausugan)

  • Island-wide Camps held in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
    • VYLH-Philippines joins the signature campaign of the Philippine society for orphan disorders (PSOD) in support for the passage of a Rare Disease act of the Philippines within the 14th congress.

2009 Pioneer VYLs

  • Institution and planning workshop, vylh-philippines first national youth camp
  • Election of Cluster Coordinators
  • ICBD India

2008 Planning and Initial Preparations; UP Los Baños Network

  • The UPLB Genetics Society was handpicked by then IHG-NIH, UP Manila director Dr. Carmencita Padilla to represent the youth and spearhead the youth advocacy campaign directed towards increasing the public's awareness on folic acid and its importance in the prevention of birth defects, particularly neural tube defects.
  • First demonstration of the Folic Acid Campaign
  • Establishment of UPLB Network

For a more detailed timeline of our Initial Preparations (2008-2009) , visit this page.