The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco shares with the Filipino Community that the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), under its Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLeaD) Program, has opened the call for participants in the 2025 YouLeaD Summer Program with the theme “Celebrating Filipino Culture and Community,” to be held in the Philippines in June 2025.
YouLeaD is for young Overseas Filipinos and Filipino Americans who were born outside the Philippines or migrated at an early age who feel disconnected with their ancestral roots. It offers the participants an in-depth exploration of their Filipino heritage, history, language, and cultural practices through lectures and guided tours to significant scenic and historical landmarks in the Philippines.
This year’s itinerary includes visits to the Malacañang (Presidential Palace) Museum and the National Museum in Manila, a farm immersion in Pampanga, an adventure and eco-tourism trip to Mount Pinatubo, and a historical tour of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bataan.
To join YouLeaD, applicants must: be 16 to 22 years old with Filipino ancestry; be committed to participate for the whole duration of the program; have no conflict in their school or work schedules, and no prior commitments on the said dates; be physically able to participate in certain activities (e.g., farming, trekking); and have the funds to support themselves and their personal expenses during the trip.
Visit the official YouLeaD website at https://youlead-new.cfo.gov.ph/. Inquiries regarding the program must be conveyed to CFO through email at youlead@cfo.gov.ph.