Objective
To help prepare young people for their future roles as parents and to be able to provide a space where sexuality needs and problems can be discussed.

Background
The Family Planning Association of the Philippines (FPOP) was established in 1969 as a private, voluntary, non-profit organisation, and is affiliated to the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Since 1983, the FPOP had implemented its Development and Family Life Education for Youth Programme (DAFLEY), which is not only aimed at youths but also implemented by youths themselves.

The programme initially encountered many problems largely centred on the inadequate training of both staff and volunteers that resulted in set-backs and failure.

The youth programme was later integrated with an IFP/MCH project thus exposing the growing number of youth volunteers to wider sources of information, education, and project activities.

Scope
The programme provides a comprehensive package of information, education, and reproductive health (RH) services designed to help youths understand the adverse consequences of teenage pregnancy and early marriage. Information and counselling services are provided by a corps of well-trained professional youth counsellors.

Main Activities
Trained young peer counsellors conduct training, open seminars, and lectures to both in-school and out-of-school youths, parent-student-teacher sessions (centre-based and outreach services), and run the telephone hotline.

The programme comprises a Teen Centre which is managed by trained youth volunteers and equipped with recreational facilities and a mini library. The centre essentially provides the necessary space for adolescents to obtain information and advice on their sexuality and fertility problems, through individual counselling, and a hotline. The receiving room, equipped with audio-visual facilities and indoor games, is used for group discussions, meetings and seminars. In addition, outreach activities including income-generating projects are also carried out.

Sporting activities have proved to be an effective way of attracting youths with healthy competitiveness and team-building being part of the desired effect.

MANAGEMENT FEATURES

Strategy

• Established a Teen Centre providing services to adolescents as well as recreational facilities.
• Mobilised the support of community leaders for the successful introduction and implementation of community level activities and fund-raising events undertaken by individual youth groups.
• Established links with stakeholders at all levels of the community, journalists, NGOs and government organisations, etc.

Capacity-Building

• Normative linkages with journalists.
• Satisfactory linkages with youth clients.
• Functional linkages with schools, professionals, government, and other NGOs
• Enabled linkages with FPOP which provides technical and financial support.

Mobilising Resources

• Recreational activities (community activities like sporting activities) help mobilise the public

Managerial Leadership

• Act in an advisory/consultative capacity
• Recruit necessary resources and manpower
• Ensure that activities are implemented according to plan.
• Generation of funds for DAFLEY programme activities

Evaluation Findings

• The Davao Chapter DAFLEY has gained in stature, strength, and recognition and has won several awards in recognition of its work.
• Financial insecurity is a threat to the DAFLEY programme at the Davao Chapter.
• The Davao Chapter needs to improve its physical infrastructure to accommodate the increasing number of visitors as well as provide peer counsellors with formal training.
• Both its library and IEC materials are inadequate and need to be strengthened.