Philippines - Forming Young People for Life: Identifying Emotional Abuse in the Family
Cebu, Philippines – January 2024 – On 26 January, the Parish Youth Coordination Council of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes facilitated another formation session on life and youth issues, this time on the theme “Identifying Emotional Abuse in the Family.” More than 150 young members of different youth groups of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM), recipients of youth scholarships and other parishes participated in the meeting at the Youth Centre gym. Mrs. May Margaret Sim shared her experience in recognising emotional abuse within the family and how to deal with it. Ms. Sim, counselor and psychologist, also taught young people how to cope with and avoid emotional trauma. Fr Fidel Ma. Orendain, SDB, Superior of the Salesian Province of the Southern Philippines (FIS), spoke at the event as part of the provincial visit to the parish. Also present are young people from neighbouring parishes in order to involve a wider youth population.