Youth-Encounter-Program-Final-Manuscript - BERF 2020 - Hormachuelos.pdf

This action research investigates the effectiveness of the <b>Youth Encounter Program (YEP)</b> in reducing incidents of <b>bullying</b> and <b>teenage pregnancy</b> among high school students at <i>Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Technical Vocational School of Fisheries and Arts</i>, Bohol, Philippines. Conducted during the academic years 2019–2021 and funded by the Basic Education Research Fund (BERF), this study evaluates YEP’s impact through both quantitative document reviews and qualitative online surveys.Findings reveal that the program <b>significantly reduced bullying cases by 72%</b>, while its effect on teenage pregnancy was more modest, with only a 20% reduction. Statistical analysis (Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test) confirmed a significant difference in bullying incidents before and after the intervention but not in pregnancy cases.Students perceived the YEP as highly beneficial for their <b>spiritual, moral, emotional, and relational development</b>. Participants noted personal transformations and expressed strong willingness to recommend the program to peers. The study concludes that faith-based, character-building initiatives like YEP can serve as effective tools in addressing youth behavior and child protection issues in Philippine secondary schools.This report contributes to school-based intervention literature and can guide educators, policy makers, and community youth programs in <b>promoting values formation and holistic student well-being</b>.