Purpose, Goals and Objectives of the Program

Every single person has skills, abilities and gifts.
John McKnight

What is the Vision of PYLP?

The overarching vision of the PYLP program is to enhance participants’ knowledge, skills, leadership abilities, and confidence so that they can engage the world around them more deeply, and have impact that reverberates far beyond the four-weeks in the U.S. More specifically, program goals are to: 

1. Prepare youth leaders to become responsible citizens and contributing members of their communities;
2. Empower participants to be actively engaged in addressing issues of concern in their schools and communities upon their return home;
3. Build mutual understanding, tolerance, and respect through shared culture and values; and
4. Foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, racial, religious, and national groups.   

What is the Leadership Training about?

After 18 years of successful leadership development programs for students from the Philippines, Northern Illinois University (NIU) is pleased to continue the Philippine Youth Leadership Program (PYLP) in 2022 to 2024. Student leaders from diverse communities around the island of Mindanao, specifically BARMM, participate in an intensive one-month leadership training and team building experience in the USA centered at NIU in DeKalb, IL, and concluding with a brief educational visit to Washington, DC. After returning to the Philippines, students implement self-led projects that promote some aspect of community development in their region. They then gather as a group a final time for sharing best practices and evaluation of their activities.  

What are the themes in the next 3 years?

In this updated program, the primary themes focus on:

• Civic Education (citizen participation, grassroots democracy and other mission priorities)
• Youth Leadership Development (such as team building, public speaking, negotiation, goal setting, and project planning)
• Respect for Diversity (including ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities);
• Community Engagement (sustainable communities, environmental preservation, peace and mediation, disaster preparedness and management, asset-based community development, volunteerism, and philanthropy); and
• Environmental Education (biodiversity, ecosystems, environmental preservation and sustainability)

All these themes are crucial aspects of developing the kind of cross-ethnic relationships and understanding that allow for peaceful coexistence and cooperation in the leadership of the Mindanao region.  

How do you apply?

Visit the Arrupe Educational Center at Xavier University. Apply here