SENATOR Cynthia Villar awarded 11 youth groups for their initiatives to help ward off poverty amid several challenges.

The groups participated in the 6th Villar SIPAG Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge.

“This is a friendly competition among the Filipino youth whose social enterprises contribute in alleviating the poverty situation in their respective communities,” Villar said.

“Eliminating poverty requires that young people must be recognized as a resource for change in society, ” she added.

Each of the 10 Most Outstanding Youth Social Enterprises awardee got P150,000 cash while the Special Awardee received P100,000.

The senator said that the Villar SIPAG Youth Awards is a step in the right direction as it strengthens youth organizations by giving them more space for participation, influence and power.

Furthermore, she said this year’s winning groups champion the promotion and preservation of the Filipino arts and culture, entrepreneurship in agriculture, environment preservation, leadership development, health and wellness, together with the promotion of their advocacy via social media.

The youth organizations recognized were the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry-NCR Youth Ambassadors, Muntinlupa City; Banda San Jose, Las Piñas City; I-Saved or Saving Vulnerable, Education & Dreams, Nabbotuan, Solana, Cagayan; 4-H Club Yogad Kan Balada of Divinian, Jones, Isabela; Eden or Empowering Dairy Enterprises Network Youth Association of San Francisco,Tarlac City; White Light Creative Productions, Inc. Dasmariñas City, Cavite; Ubojan Young Dreamers 4H-Club, Ubojan, Sagbayan, Bohol; Cassava Growers & Processors Association – 4H Club of San Pedro, Dapitan City; Luyungan Kauyagan, Inc., of Nasuli Bangcud, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; Surigao Youth Convergence, Inc. of Luna, Surigao City.

A special award was given to Gintong Tamaraw Artists Association of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.