By: Janine Balageo
Members of the Rights2LIFE Project, together with Prof. Dr. Christophe Vandeviver and Prof. Dr. Tom Vander Beken of Ghent University, conducted a site visit to the DSWD-Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth-CAR in Sablan, Benguet, one of the project’s key partner institutions. The visit was part of the Rights2LIFE Project’s ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional partnerships and to gain a deeper understanding of operational practices in youth rehabilitation.
Ghent University Professors and Rights2LIFE Members Visits RRCY in Sablan, Benguet
During the visit, the delegation toured the Center’s facilities, including dormitories, classrooms, recreational areas, and other program spaces. This allowed the professors and project members to observe the day-to-day environment in which the youth beneficiaries reside and participate in rehabilitation programs. The delegation took note of the Center’s organizational setup, program structures, and available resources, providing a comprehensive picture of how youth rehabilitation is implemented within the local context.
Ghent University Professors and Rights2LIFE Members Visits RRCY in Sablan, Benguet
The site visit offered the professors an opportunity to contextualize the research and capacity-building initiatives promoted by the Rights2LIFE Project. Observing the physical spaces, program activities, and operational arrangements of the Center enabled them to better understand the challenges and opportunities in youth rehabilitation, which can inform future research, program development, and advocacy work. The visit also highlighted the importance of aligning project initiatives with the practical realities of partner institutions, ensuring that interventions remain responsive, evidence-based, and tailored to the needs of youth beneficiaries.
By strengthening institutional collaboration with a youth rehabilitation center and examining its organizational and program structures, the project supports SDG 16’s (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) call to promote just, inclusive, and accountable institutions. The delegation’s engagement with classrooms, structured learning spaces, and rehabilitation programs reflects SDG 4 (Quality Education), which emphasizes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities, particularly for vulnerable youth. Moreover, the active partnership between Ghent University and the DSWD facility exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals), highlighting the importance of international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and multi-stakeholder collaboration in advancing sustainable development outcomes.
