By Asmahanim Amir
Pix University Community Transformation Centre (UCTC)

BANGI, 1 August 2016 – ASEAN Youth Volunteer Programme (AYVP) 2016 has officially started today when 50 volunteers assemble at the University of the Philippines (UP) and across Manila, Philippines beginning today until August 26.

The selected volunteer, are identified based on their interest on issues pertaining to Disaster Risk reduction (DRR) and are mostly experienced in disaster management on natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, droughts, typhoon.

They are also expected to be committed in implementing a project that can potentially give the benefit to community besides helping communities in need.

The four week programme is organized in cooperation between the National University of Malaysia (UKM), UP, Ateneo de Manilla University (ADMU) and De La Salle University (DLSU).

Other collaborators in this programme include the U.S. Agency for International Development, ASEAN Secretariat, Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia, National Youth Commission (NYC) Philippines and Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Office of the President of the Philippines.

All the participants will be equipped with leadership competencies through workshop and hands-on activities.

They will also be given the opportunity to work with each other and local communities to discover the ASEAN identity and discuss DRR issues.