Chalan Kanoa Youth Center reopens

Four years after Super Typhoon Yutu, the Chalan Kanoa Youth Center reopened yesterday to offer services not just for children but also to provide community activities for families.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres also pledged to provide the center with sports equipment such as basketballs, baseball, footballs, and volleyballs, and was met with cheers from the youth in attendance.

The center will open from Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4:30pm.

Youth Affairs Office special assistant Ali Ogo said the center not only serves as a safe haven for tChalan Kanoa’s children, “but also as a beacon of light to steer our youth into positive development and quality education, career readiness, help civic participation, use talent and leadership and general life skills to ensure any safe and beneficial manner.”

The reopening of the center also means that the Youth Affairs Office under the Office of the Governor will now be able to offer community activities for families, Ogo said, while providing multiple opportunities, training, and assistance to the island’s youth.

To the children in attendance, Torres said, “This is the reason why we do what we do—to make sure that our kids have a place that they can enjoy with each other, a memory of a lifetime. …We are here to make sure that they have their own memory that they can one day be proud of. …We’re here just to make sure we give them those resources. …So to the people of Precinct 2, CK, you have a new, nice facility. Please keep it clean. And to all Youth Affairs Office staff, Mr. Eric Esteves, Keith Ada thank you for taking the initiative to help out.” Esteves and Ada help clean and maintain the nearby basketball courts as private citizens.

Torres also urged the children not to post graffiti or damage the center’s equipment. 

Ogo is also inviting the community to the Youth Affairs Office’s drive-thru trick-or-treat Halloween at the San Vicente Youth Center on Monday, Oct. 31, from 6pm to 10pm.

Others in attendance at the opening ceremony were Fr. Rey Rosal, Antonio Reyes, outreach coordinator of the Office of Youth Affairs, other Office of Youth Affairs faculty and staff, and children and parents.

Aside from the upcoming Halloween Trick or Treat, the Youth Affairs Office is also working on after school programs, 2022 Youth Summit, 2022 Christmas Village, 3 on 3 Basketball, and the 2022 Youth Concert.