In line with FundLife's constant efforts to improve our programs for the youth, a capacity-building training for youth mentors and coaches was held to tackle emerging social issues affecting children and the youth. This 2-day training was held last February 7 & 9, 2022 and was facilitated by Ms. Xhelxhea Lerios, a Registered Social Worker who is currently the Stakeholder Engagement Specialist for FundLife Cebu.
Day 1 covered issues surrounding Mental Health: the state of mental health in the Philippines and the stigma and misconceptions surrounding it. Part of the capacity-building training was developing the skills to determine early signs of stress, anxiety, or depression among the youth, and knowing how to engage them in meaningful and open conversations, as well as provide support. They also covered valuable lessons and tips on how to empower the youth to open up if they are initially hesitant to seek professional help.
Day 2 was about Protecting Children Against Abuse & Exploitation. Child abuse and exploitation are very rampant nowadays, especially during the pandemic when children are in isolation. According to statistics, 3 out of 5 Filipino children are physically and psychologically abused and bullied, and almost 1 in 5 children are sexually violated. And with the current online learning setup, children and youth are even more prone to cyberbullying and sexual exploitation online.
Throughout the 2-day training, the coaches and mentors engaged in fun games and learning activities which helped them tackle emerging social issues better. Along with this, the participants also identified solutions and actions they can take when they encounter cases and children's reports related to mental health and abuse/exploitation issues.
"This capacity building for emerging social issues concerning children and youth is very relevant for us youth mentors because we directly work with the highly vulnerable children and youth in high-risk areas in Tacloban City and Leyte. We want to arm ourselves with the necessary skills to serve these children better and support them in the best possible way," Lyra, one of the youth mentors, shared.
Being the front liners of the organization, youth mentors and coaches need to be familiar with the proper handling of children in the community. With the help of this training, FundLife aims to reach more communities and provide better support for the Filipino youth.