Camarines Norte, Philippines – In celebration of Linggo ng Kabataan and International Youth Day, YSEALI Bicol Hub and iLab ARAL Inc. organized the "Cybersafe: Youth Conference on Media and Information Literacy and Cybersecurity" on August 21, 2024, at the Audio-Visual Room of the Camarines Norte Provincial Capitol.

The conference featured Paolo Miguel Ordonio, a YSEALI alumnus and Deputy Executive Director of the Break the Fake Movement, as the keynote speaker. Ordonio led engaging discussions on the importance of media and information literacy and highlighted crucial cybersecurity practices for today's digital age.

James Earn Esperida, Hub Director of YSEALI Bicol and Executive Director of iLab ARAL Inc., delivered an inspiring message, providing an overview of the program and challenging the participants to apply what they learned in their communities.

The event included interactive group activities and sharing sessions led by Pearly Esperida and Ayvee Esteleydes, which fostered a collaborative exchange of ideas among the more than 70 attendees. Participants included senior high school and college students, PWDs, members of women’s groups, and teachers, creating a diverse audience eager to strengthen their digital skills.

This event is part of the ongoing KA-HUSAY-AN (Kabataang Husay sa Bayan) initiative, which aims to equip the youth in Bicol with relevant digital literacy skills. The program is supported by the US Embassy in the Philippines and YSEALI Philippines, furthering efforts to empower the region's youth in the digital landscape.