The continuing conflict in Mindanao has led to an extensive displacement of residents,

lack of essential services, and high incidence of poverty and youth unemployment. In
this situation, a threatening problem in education and civic opportunities becomes a
combined factor that pushes many young people toward participating in idle pursuits
and even lead them to be involved in illegal activities.

To address this challenge, the Mindanao Youth for Development (MYDev) Program in
Isabela City, Basilan works with the government and other participating partners to
promote an enabling environment that will protect the out-of-school youth (OSY) against
unproductive and violent social activities in their communities.

The MYDev Project in Isabela City under Mr. Alex Molas, youth development
coordinator, seeks the engagement of out-of-school youths in workforce and community
development activities which includes the implementation of livelihood skills training for
youth through Education Development Center Inc. (EDC) Youth Development,
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Furigay College Inc.,
and other local service agencies and organizations in the city.

It also delivers EDCs Work Ready Now! curriculum to enable young people to think
critically and act creatively while demonstrating effective work habits, communication
skills and interaction, and disciplined personal conduct in the workplace.

MYDev’s engagement with partners also facilitates the provision of financial capital
grants to qualified youth organizations for livelihood purposes.

For this year, some 486 out-of-school youths were already trained on MYDev’s life skills
and technical skills curriculum for work readiness and civic engagements. The first
batch, with 284 OSYs graduated on April 18 and 202 OSYs graduated on August 23 in
Isabela City.

International Certificates were awarded to the 89 OSYs who completed the MYDev Life
Skills training program and successfully passed the International Work Ready Now
examination and has certified performance skills for employment.

The Furigay College Inc. as the only school in Isabela City accredited by TESDA
provided the out-of-school youths with trainings on carpentry, plumbing, cookery, and
bread and pastry-making, among others.

Through this skills training, the young people were able to acquire skills that they need
to secure meaningful and well-paid works. It also brings hope to the out-of-school
youths in the city, equipping them to navigate in the world of employment opportunities.

The youths who acquired this training considered it as an instrument or means to

employment and advancement that will lead them to a meaningful career in the future.
Helping MYDev to fulfill its mission is the Out-of-School Youth Development Alliance
(OSYDA), a convergence of efforts to assist the OSYs’ wellbeing. Members come from
various government agencies, local government units, and non-government
organizations. The alliance ensures the sustainability of the development program that
MYDev had started.

In addition to the trainings delivered, the EDC Fund also provides financial grants to
qualified youth organizations by barangay. Three barangays, namely: Panigayan,
Kumalarang and Binuangan, each received the said grants in the amount of P23,000 in
cheque. The said grants will help the youths in their livelihood programs to improve
competencies or skills, enhance income, increase employment and improve
sustainability of economic activities.

Ongoing conflict in the Mindanao region of the Southern Philippines has led to
wide displacement of residents, lack of essential services, and high rates of
poverty and youth unemployment. As in many regions of conflict, formal
economic, educational, and civic opportunities are scarce—a combination of
factors that pushes many young people toward participating in idle pursuits.

EDC is working with the government of the Philippines and local partners to
strengthen peace and stability in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao through
the USAID-funded Mindanao Youth for Development (MYDev) Program.
MYDev aims to actively engage out-of-school youth (OSY) in workforce and
community development activities, contributing to incremental gains in mutual
trust and social capital that underpin local area stability, security, and
prosperity.

Key Activities
MYDev seeks to engage at least 19,000 out-of-school youths in workforce and
community development activities. The project’s activities include the
following:

 Implement livelihood skills trainings for youth through the Department of

Education’s Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and
local service agencies in selected conflict-affected areas in Mindanao
 Support equitable access to basic education and high school equivalency
courses through the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning
Systems
 Deliver EDC’s Work Ready Now! curriculum to enable young people to
think critically and act creatively while demonstrating effective work
habits, communication skills and interaction, and disciplined personal
conduct in the workplace
 Provide capacity building to local OSY development alliances