Filipino youth are again given an opportunity to hone their skills and contribute to the country’s growth through entrepreneurship with the launch of the 2022 Youth Social Innovation Lab (YSIL): “Kabataan All In”. YSIL is a flagship event of Youth Co:Lab, an initiative co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme and Citi Foundation, which aims to invest in and empower the youth as critical contributors in accelerating the implementation of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

YSIL: Kabataan All In aims to foster youth-led entrepreneurship, social innovation, and leadership to accelerate SDG implementation; capacitate youth to develop inclusive and disruptive solutions; and create a platform for youth engagement, youth-led social innovation, and entrepreneurship. 

 Interested applicants can join YSIL 2022 by going to the Edukasyon.ph website to take on the “Quests.” The YSIL 2022 journey begins with a refresher on the basics of identifying what social inclusion means and the ways through which the youth can be agents of change. Applicants who complete the process and are able to qualify will take part in the “Solution Lab,” where they will have three weeks of online learning and training sessions to develop their enterprises. Participants will be trained in the fields of social entrepreneurship, enhancing business models, investing for impact, and impact management and measurement. Five teams will be selected based on their pitch and will be awarded seed money and mentoring support. They will also get a chance to participate in the Asia Pacific Youth Co:Lab Summit in July 2022.

Dr. Selva Ramachandran, Resident Representative of UNDP in the Philippines, encourages young people to join and “engage in discussions on issues that matter to them, use their voice to tell stories to fellow youth, and continue the work being done to reach the farthest first and leave no one behind."

Youth Social Innovation Lab 2022 gives a platform to the underrepresented youth sectors like the out-of-school, those affected by conflict or disaster, the LGBTQ+, the differently-abled, and the youth from ethnic or religious minorities. 

Learn more about YSIL: Kabataan All In - Quest through https://www.edukasyon.ph/quest/230-kabataan-all-in.  Follow UNDP Philippines on Facebook at facebook.com/undp.ph for Instagram and Twitter, @undp.ph for more updates.

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About Youth Co:Lab 

Youth Co:Lab positions young people front and center in order to solve the region’s most pressing challenges. Co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation, Youth Co:Lab aims to establish a common agenda for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to empower and invest in youth, so that they can accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurship. Youth Co:Lab has been implemented in 28 countries and territories across the Asia Pacific. https://www.youthcolab.org/ 

About UNDP  

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.  

About Citi Foundation  

The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant communities. The Citi Foundation's "More than Philanthropy'' approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com.  

About Edukasyon.ph 

Launched in 2015, Edukasyon.ph is the largest online youth platform in the Philippines, empowering millions of Filipino students to make better education decisions that lead to a fulfilling career and life. Students use our website to access courses, schools, scholarships, online education, and other resources and opportunities to take the paths best suited to their own interests, skills and passion. We’ve worked with hundreds of schools, corporations, and foundations to enable them to reach and engage with our student community along the journey from education to career.