Guam News - Community Events

Held at the Hyatt Regency Guam on April 27 – 29, 2012, this year’s conference theme is 20:12 Time for Change. It focuses on the need for recognition on the each person’s responsibility to be agents of change in an ever-evolving world. Media talk shows and 5K events will be held earlier in the month in preparation for the conference.

The three-day conference aims to discuss various issues that the youth today face – underage drinking, suicide, and substance abuse. Conference co-chair and Southern High senior Marlijo Serineo shares: “Five years ago I was invited to attend the Youth for Youth conference. That experience taught me values and skills that molded me into the strong and successful person that I am today. More importantly, it gave me the opportunity to build relationships with friends who I trust even to this day.”  YFYLG’s vision includes youth who are empowered with knowledge and life skills in choosing and promoting among their family and peers healthy and substance abuse-free lifestyles. In line with this, the three main goals of the conference are:

-          To learn to use the powerful influence and creativity of teens to turn peer pressure from negative to positive,

-          To teach young people effective leadership and goal setting skills, and

-          To give clear messages to teens that it is their responsibility to say “NO” to alcohol, tobacco, drugs, suicide, violence, and other forms of negative behavior.

The conference is for the youth and BY the youth. “For the past 12 weeks, we have recruited, selected and trained our members to be the conference facilitators,” says conference co-chair and Father Duenas Memorial School senior Jerick Cruz. He adds: “What stands this conference apart from others is the leadership that the youth themselves carry out, and the in-depth involvement and camaraderie that we develop with our participants. This conference is truly a testament of youth empowerment in-action!”

The youth group expects a pool of 350 participants from middle and high schools on Guam and neighboring islands in our region. A maximum of 5 scholarships will be awarded to each school, while registration fee for both students and chaperone adults is at $100/person. Registration forms are available at each school’s guidance councilors. Seating is limited so interested students are urged to sign up for a spot immediately. For more information on registration, contact Debbie Duenas at 477-9079 or yfyhype@gmail.com.

3rd Annual HYPE IT UP! 5K Run/Walk
To raise funds for the conference, YFYLG is hosting its 3rd Annual 5K fundraiser event, at the Hyatt Regency Guam, on Sunday April 1st. Corporate and non-profit organizations are urged to partner and sponsor the event, whose proceeds will assist in financing the group’s training and logistic needs. Interested sponsors may contact Sara Dimla at 477-9082 or sara.dimla@mail.dmhsa.guam.gov for more information.

Youth Talk Today!
The youth show “Youth Talk Today!” is a precursor to the conference – a live talkshow hosted by the youth members themselves, discussing real-life issues with key stakeholders in our community, including substance abuse prevention, suicide prevention, and underage drinking. Listeners and viewers are also given the opportunity to call-in and interact with our youth hosts and their guests. Youth Talk Today! can be heard on Power 98, from 7pm through 9pm, on March 10th, March 24th, April 7th and April 21st. A simulcast can be seen on Fox6. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Kris Lujan at 477-5700 ext 125 or kris@spbguam.com.  


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Youth for Youth LIVE! Guam is a non-profit, community-based, youth-centered, youth-driven drug prevention program for teens between the ages of 11 and 17. Strong youth involvement is the asset of this organization. The foundation upon which YFY is built in is the belief that Guam’s youth are leaders of today and have much to contribute towards making positive changes in their families, schools and village communities. These teens are actively involved in prevention program development, implementation and evaluation. Guam’s youth possesses relevant knowledge and cultural experiences, strength and character, and the ability to effectively lead and influence their peers to take personal responsibility for living their lives, healthy and drug-free.