With over 1.6 million cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines plus the spiraling need for additional beds in major hospitals in the country, the power of the youth to help curb the spread of infection is vital as proven in the past. In terms of youth engagement towards public health, there is only one name in the house — Ideas Positive.
Ideas Positive, running for over 10 years now, is hailed as the country’s premier youth engagement program that empowers the youth to be leaders in building healthier communities. In support to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, Ideas Positive continuously engages the youth to create local solutions with global impact to high need and high neglect health gaps in their communities.
From solving diarrhea to providing water access to curbing malnutrition and even promote polio vaccination, the program is well-respected because of its legacy and strong base of support not only coming from its over 100 partner communities but also from international and national organizations.
The program also is known for launching the largest gathering of youth leaders for health since 2018 known as the Ideas Positive Youth Forum on Public Health.
Many of its alumni now and even its partners are asking where Ideas Positive is. In this darkest of times, young people need a leader to hold their hands. They are not expecting for another Forum or another set of funding, they are expecting that the flagship program will show its compassionate presence because the real genius of Ideas Positive is not its funding but the message of hope that it provides for the youth.
Personally, I can still remember the time and the feeling how Ideas Positive in 2013 touched my life. The program saved me, and it can still save lives now.
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MUTYA_PH 