SENATOR Cynthia Villar has encouraged the youth to engage in social enterprises to help reduce poverty in their communities.

Since the Villar Foundation, which she leads, believes in poverty reduction and youth empowerment, it allows the youth to make decisions in their community to assist them in improving their living conditions and the lives of the lives of people around them.

To motivate them to take action and participate in efforts to minimize poverty, the senator launched in 2017 the Villar Foundation Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge, a friendly competition among Filipino youth through social enterprises that was designed to help reduce poverty in communities and the country in general.

In her address during the 7th Villar Foundation Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge awarding ceremonies held at the Villar Sipag Complex in Las Piñas City, the senator cited that poverty, which has many faces affecting a person, family, community, and country, is a big challenge for most Filipinos.

“Poverty is oftentimes a hindrance, or it sets limitations to acquiring education, taking care of one’s health, having enough food on the table, or finding a job,” also said Villar, a known advocate of social enterprises.

Due to this, she called on the youth to be active partners in pushing for various programs to combat poverty.

This year, more than 80 entries joined the challenge, 20 were shortlisted, and eight emerged as winners and received a cash prize of P150,000 and a trophy.

Four Most Promising Youth Groups also received a cash prize of P100,000 and a trophy and special recognition was given to three youth organizations, which received P75,000 and a certificate from Villar.