The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga, through its Protective Services Division – Sectoral Unit, successfully hosted the Consultation Dialogue and Capacity Building Workshop on Integrating Gender Equality, Diversity, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) for the National Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) Federation Officers for Calendar Year 2025 – June 15-18, 2025.

Now on its second year of hosting the activity, DSWD Field Office Caraga welcomed 24 participants, composed of PYAP National Federated Officers and officers from DSWD Central Office.

The workshop aimed to strengthen the linkage between the national federation and local PYAP chapters by equipping youth leaders with strategies to make programs more inclusive and responsive. These efforts are vital in reinforcing the implementation of the Unlad Kabataan Program (UKP) and other youth-centered initiatives.

The five-day activity covered key discussions including the national meeting of PYAP officers, overview of the UKP, accomplishments presentation, organizational issues and gaps, by-laws review, and ways forward for 2025–2026. Critical topics on GEDSI, SOGIESC, disability-responsive planning, intersectionality, and gender-inclusive programming were also tackled through workshops and collaborative planning sessions.

This initiative underscores PYAP’s commitment to advocating for the rights and welfare of Filipino youth, fostering unity across chapters, and ensuring that no young person is left behind in the pursuit of holistic development.