Quezon city: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has embarked on a new initiative to integrate science and technology into the rehabilitation programs for youth under its care. On Monday, DSWD signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with ScienceKonek to launch the Youth Science Discovery Program (YSDP) in the agency's centers and residential care facilities (CRCFs).
According to Philippines News Agency, the agreement was formalized at the DSWD Central Office with Secretary Rex Gatchalian and ScienceKonek founding president Ralph Lauren Abainza signing the document. This partnership aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to ensure no youth is left behind, preparing them as future nation builders of the Bagong Pilipinas.
The YSDP will involve hands-on experiments, interactive workshops, and mentorship to engage residents of CRCFs, with a pilot program set to commence at the Nayon ng Kabataan by the end of August. ScienceKonek also aims to enhance the skills of CRCF employees to ensure the program's sustainability.
Secretary Gatchalian highlighted the initiative as a crucial component of a whole-of-nation strategy to provide the youth with opportunities to become future leaders. He emphasized that the collaboration aims to restore hope in youths who have faced neglect or abuse, offering more than just material assistance.
Gatchalian stated, "We want to show them that while others may have hurt and failed them, there are still people who have big hearts for them." The partnership not only provides a platform for learning but also demonstrates community care and belief in the potential of these youths.
Ralph Lauren Abainza expressed gratitude for the partnership, noting that it aligns with ScienceKonek's mission to make science accessible to every Filipino child. He remarked, "For us, science is, and should always be, for all."
The signing event was also attended by Undersecretary for Operations Monina Josefina Romualdez, Director Kaye Sacapa±o of the Center Development Office, Nayon ng Kabataan Center head Helen Pereyra, and youth leaders and advisers from ScienceKonek.
