Abra Youth Organizations Society

Abra Youth Organizations Society, or AYOS, is a group of youth leaders and youth organizations in the Republic of the Philippines that envisions to be the premier leadership development organization for young men and women in Abra (province).

AYOS is an accredited non-government organization of the International Youth Federation (Fédération Internationale de la Jeunesse), an international non-profit youth organizations network governed by the present Statutes and the Swiss Civil Code and is a part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Youth Network.

History
The Abra Youth Organization (AYO)

Abra Youth Organization (AYO) was founded in the 1970 and was known as the apathy breakers of Abra. Carmelita Bersalona was the chair of the youth group. Later in the 1980, members of AYO became volunteers of the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections and, later, founded the Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Government, Inc.

The Abra Youth Organizations Society (AYOS)

Inspired by AYO, the organization started during the May 2013 local and national elections. About 500 young people of Abra assembled for a Walk for Good Governance on May 4, 2013. Four days later, 22 young leaders gathered in a meeting and signed the manifesto calling for clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful elections in Abra.

The organization was formally named as the Abra Youth Organizations Society on June 2013 and was subsequently, registered to the Youth Organizations Registration Program of the National Youth Commission (Philippines).

Programs and Services
AYOS works in four (4) advocacies, as follows:
 * Participation on Civil Society and Governance
 * Health and Education. AYOS is a member of the Universal Health Coverage, a coalition of leading health and development organizations urging governments to accelerate universal health coverage.
 * Employment and Entrepreneurship
 * Environment and Climate Change Adaptation

Leadership Training Institute, or LTI, is a three-day camp that combines advocacy, leadership, and citizenship skills.

The role of AYOS reflected the youth sector's ability to shape and reflect larger struggles for social and political change in Abra. AYOS have been very instrumental to the success of General Benjamin Magalong’s campaign against election violence in 2013 and in the succeeding elections.

Leadership and Governance
Building a youth society of equals, AYOS is now under the leadership of a trustee board with the Chairperson functioning as primus inter pares, and with the President functioning as primus inter pares for the youth members.