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Empowering youth to advocate for social justice and health equity in a resettlement community in the Philippines through a needs assessment powered by geographical-information-systems-(GIS)-technology
The leadership project developed was aimed at youth development, empowerment and life- skills training in order to encourage the youth to take charge of assessing the challenges faced in their community. The 25 youth and four adult leaders took on a project that might have seemed insurmountable at first, but with diligence, determination and hope, were able to successfully canvass 107 hectares of SV7 and survey 2639 homes. Within these 2639 homes, 3015 families responded to a 15-25 minute survey powered by open source GIS-technology that asked questions relating to water, electricity, employment, food and health. In addition, the respondents were asked to rate their top three concerns for the community, and to share a vision statement that would describe their hopes for SV7.
Accelerating Forward - Unlad Bayan was sponsored by Consuelo Foundation, Mapyourworld/Revolutionary Optimists and the University of Hawaii, Office of Public Health Studies and School of Social Work. Logistical support came from Don Bosco Calauan, E-Skills Network and Technical and Vocational Educational Training (TVET) and the Southville 7 community. In addition, written support was rendered by the Office of Mayor George Berris, the National Housing Authority (NHA) and Southville 7 NHA Home Owner’s Association (HOA).
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health educationAssessment of individual and community needs for health education
Communication and informatics
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Program planning
Learning Objectives:
Demonstrates the use of geographical-information-systems or GIS-technology on assessing community health needs in a rural, resettlement community in the Philippines.
Describes a youth leadership project that empowers youth to advocate for social justice and health equality in a resettlement or squatter community in the Philippines, through technology, leadership, and capacity-building.
Demonstrates the collaborative process and partnership with community members, including youth, leaders, non-governmental organizations and the local government in developing a community needs assessment.
Keyword(s): Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Youth
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been awarded a 3 month fellowship, offered by a collaborative between the School of Social Work and Offices of Public Health at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the Consuelo Foundation. The project presented, and indicated above, describes a needs-assessment project that focused on youth empowerment, social justice and health equity. I am a student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and will be graduating in May of 2014.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.