This year, PYAP celebrates its anniversary with the theme “45 years of Excellence: Developing Efficient and Effective PYAP and Transforming Lives.” Hence, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region III spearhead the 14^th Regional PYAP Assembly on September 27, 2019, at SM City Telabastagan, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

The said activity came to success when more than 300 young participants from Central Luzon showed and actively participated.

John Paul Correa, PYAP’s regional president reported on the status of their organization’s accomplishments and future plans. Intermission numbers and a friendly dance competition added more color to the already blissful celebration.

The heart of the activity was the panel interview of four former PYAP members who gound themselves in the service of others. They served as an inspiration to the youth and affirmed the success of the sectoral group.

The organization of Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) in 1974 is one of the major strategies under the Unlad Kabataan Program that was developed by the DSWD that is geared towards the total development of disadvantaged youth in terms of their spiritual, economic, physical, psychological, cultural and social development. 

Presently, there are 18,000 PYAP members in Central Luzon. One of the programs and services for the youth is the Government Internship Program (GIP), which is a component of the Kabataan 2000 Program of the national government which was developed to provide opportunities for in-school youth to have hands-on experience working in various government agencies. This work experience can later help them as they eventually join the workforce. Another is the Immersion Outreach Program (IOP) which aims to instill a sense of volunteerism and community service to less privileged youth of the society.