Message from the Chairperson of Advocates for Youth

Cyndy Tan-Jarabata

President/Founder - Advocates for Youth Chairperson - Club K Youth Organization

It seemed like only yesterday when Advocates for Youth Philippines Foundation came into existence. Established in late 2002, A4Y was organized by concerned parents, students and media personalities in the hopes of addressing the alarming lack of knowledge in society, especially among the youth, regarding teen sex, pregnancy and the like. It began quite humbly: merely a small group of volunteers willing to give their time to help educate the youth. Now, nearly four years later, all that has changed. Advocates for Youth Philippines is slowly emerging as a catalyst for change, helping society to be informed, empowered and educated. In collaboration with private corporations, schools, non-profit and non-governmental organizations and international agencies, A4Y is slowly reaching out to the young more and more to give them the education they need for a bright future ahead of them.

As part of our prevention campaign geared at giving the youth a chance to make responsible decisions, we recently formed a national youth network called CLUB K which stands for Kabataan, Kalusugan, Karapatan. This youth organization will be the specialized arm of Advocates for Youth in addressing the needs of the youth, especially during their volatile teenage years.

With the youth being the hope of this country, it becomes all the more imperative for us to take action now, to mold their minds with the right values and morals, before it is too late. In parting, I can only wish us all the best of luck in fulfilling our ultimate goal of helping the youth understand fully the issues around and within them, towards promoting a better-informed, more enlightened and responsible Philippine society.