Organizational Profile

The Filipino youth, ages 15 to 30, comprise more than 30% of the country’s population. Being the country’s future leaders and parents, the youth sector is a viable and dynamic target population for a health advocacy on the prevention of birth defects and preterm births.

In 2009, Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health – Philippines (VYLH-Philippines) was formally organized through the collaborative effort of the Institute of Human Genetics of the National Institutes of Health-University of the Philippines Manila, the Department of Health (Republic of the Philippines) and The UPLB Genetics Society, a student organization of the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

VYLH-Philippines is a network of proactive, service-oriented, empowering and visionary leaders equipped with knowledge and skills in mobilizing the youth for health. It is composed of youth leaders from different community- and university-based youth organizations throughout the Philippines. The formation of VYLH-Philippines is part of an international effort to establish the March of Dimes – Global Network for Maternal and Infant Health (MOD-GNMIH) participated by youth counterparts in China and Lebanon linked by the common interest of volunteerism and public service to improve birth outcomes worldwide through advocacy.

The network was organized with the aim of creating a network of youth leaders who will champion in increasing public awareness on existing health programs, and on the significance of a healthy lifestyle at an early age. Currently, the network is in the forefront of the campaign directed to increase the public’s awareness on the significance of folic acid supplementation, preconception health, newborn screening, and public support to Filipinos with rare or orphan disorders. Read more
Since 2009, VYLH-Philippines has been organizing health promotion & advocacy activities such as community and school lectures, mothers’ classes in hospitals and health centers, symposia, and exhibits. The network also continuously engages in developing accessible resource materials; designing communication tools and strategies; and establishing partnerships with local agencies and professional organizations. Read more
VYLH-Philippines has also conducted local, provincial, regional, and island-wide youth camps in order to sustain the membership of the network, and engage youth leaders coming from unrepresented areas of the network’s volunteer pool. At present, the network’s volunteer force is a diverse mixture of youth leaders coming from different interests and professions. Read more
Recently, VYLH-Philippines was invited as the sole Filipino Youth Organization to participate in the 6th International Conference on Birth Defects and Disabilities in the Developing World. The network’s programs were also recognized as one of the Outstanding Health Awareness Project of 2014 and one of the Top Model Youth Leadership Programs of 2016 Read more

Taking value to the important role of the Filipino youth in nation building, the VYLH-Philippines will continue to mold, equip, and engage youth leaders in the hope of promoting a healthier nation.

The VYLH-Philippines Emblem

  • The seeds (innermost portion) represent the role of the youth in health advocacy and promotion, and the significance of empowering the youth towards a healthy nation.
  • The eight (8) human figures represent the four (4) clusters: NCR, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; and the four (4) pioneer collaborating institutions:
    • Department of Health;
    • Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health - UP Manila;
    • Newborn Screening Reference Center (NSRC); and
    • The UPLB Genetics Society, a student organization
  • The act of holding each other signifies the collective and continuous effort of the network and its partners towards achieving the goals and objectives of the network.
  • The bodies radiating from the center shows that the organization is rooted to its role to society and its principles.
  • The four colors namely yellow, orange, yellow orange, and red orange represent the four principles embodying VYLH-Philippines namely leadership, commitment, advocacy and volunteerism.
  • The choice of these colors also signify the burning spirit of volunteerism and the radiating energy of the youth.


The VYLH-Philippines emblem was designed by Mr. Zando Escultura.