Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance
Media Release

Local Filipino Youth Group Organizes Conference to Combat the 60% Drop Out Rate of Filipino High School Students in Lower Mainland

November 1, 2005

Vancouver, B.C. - On November 25-27 the Russian Hall is going to be the site of Ipapagtuloy: Living the Storm – a Filipino youth conference tackling the issues of the lack of access to education and decent employment for Filipino-Canadian youth.  The Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance expect a jam-packed venue as local youth and international delegates come together to share their stories, ideas and expertise.

Taking its character from the Philippines’ “First Quarter Storm” of the 1970s – Ipapagtuloy: Living the Storm promises to be an enlivening and empowering weekend.  Enveloped in political fervour, the conference will educate, organize and mobilize Filipino youth all around the lower mainland and North America.  Four former youth activists from the Philippines will take the reigns in addressing the main issues; while there will be further analysis in the workshops facilitated by members of the Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance.

“The lack of education has stunted any hope of socio-economic mobility in our community,” says Mildred German of the youth organization.  “Six out of every ten Filipino youth are not completing high school, only four have the option of attending to post-secondary. Which of the four can afford to go? Which of the remaining will finish?”

Although Filipinos are the third largest visible minority in Canada, and the second largest visible minority group in the lower mainland, they remain one of the most marginalized minority groups in Canada.  The youth organization sees this conference as a pro-active step in figuring out possible solutions to the lack of education and employment of Filipino youth.

At the end of the two day conference, a national network of Filipino youth organizations will be created.  “Filipino youth will walk away with more knowledge of their current situation, and will have the tools to be able to make changes within it,” says German.  The weekend of November 25 will be a dynamic gathering of Filipino youth.  From the east, south, north, and west – Filipino youth will converge to empower and motivate each other to create social change.  “The First Quarter Storm of 1970 will be rehashed and Filipino youth will once again be living the storm,” said German.

-30-

For more information please contact
604-215-1103 or e-mail at ukpc_fcya@kalayaancentre.net