On 23-25 April 2018, CFSI’s Park Avenue Initiative team participated in the Adolescent Development Forum held in Pasig City, Philippines. The forum was attended by various development partners, national government agencies, local government units , and select officials and staff from concerned Department of Education (DepEd) offices and schools. It aimed to empower adolescent participants to gain confidence in expressing themselves and participate meaningfully in the discussion of issues that affect them. Issues discussed include Sexual and Reproductive Health, Substance Use, Adolescents in the Digital World and Cross Cutting Issues such as Gender and Mental Health, all of which fall under the DepEd priority areas. The forum was an avenue for participants to identify the gaps, challenges, and areas of priority action, and for DepEd and its development partners to share current initiatives in reinforcing positive attitudes, and identify strategic interventions as well as potential areas of collaboration.
