Ms Mel Rose Dingle’s involvement in Sexual Reproductive Health started in 1998 when she became an Adolescent Health Peer Educator in her High School. She attended a Peer Counseling Course in 1997 and since then has constantly upgraded her knowledge and skills through participation at various courses. Furthermore, she was a Community Health Educator from 1999 to 2004 and became a member of the Anak Gender Watch in 1999.
Her involvement as a volunteer of the Family Planning Organisation of the Philippines (FPOP) began in 2001 when she joined FPOP’s Youth Center - the Davao Teen Center, where she served as a counselor and a training coordinator. She was also involved in the implementation and monitoring of the Development and Family Life Education for the Youth (DAFLEY) program. Melrose was responsible for conducting training and capacity building for new volunteers and beneficiaries of the program. She also gave technical assistance to the program implementers at a sequel of the DAFLEY program, Strengthening Youth Initiative for Empowerment Program.
Ms Dingle was instrumental in advocating for the implementation of the IPPF Youth Manifesto for 20 per cent of young people to serve in all levels of governance in FPOP. In 2003 she was elected to represent the voice of young women in the FPOP National Council. She continues to actively contribute to the regional and national youth network.
In 2005, Melrose Dingle was elected as the FPOP National Youth Representative (NYR) and Chairperson of the National Youth Committee (NYC) of FPOP. As the NYR she was responsible for establishing partnerships and networking with other institutions, and for advocacy initiatives to advance the needs of young people in the Philippines.
Ms Dingle was a key Youth Member of the Regional Task Group on Youth Representation in Regional Council in 2007 and 2008. The Task Group was instrumental in effecting constitutional amendments that again resulted in the provision of 20 per cent of youth representation at Regional Council.
Since 2005 Melrose Dingle has been FPOP’s Youth Representative to the ESEAOR Regional Youth Forum. She was elected as one of the 6 core youth members of the Youth Forum to sit as observers in the Regional Council for 2005-2008. At the 2008 Regional Youth Forum, she was re-elected as one of the young people on Regional Council.
Besides her involvement in FPOP, Ms Dingle is also active as a Youth Presenter in the Philippine Region IX Gender and Development Regional Council and a Taking IT Global member 2006 to present.
More recently, Melrose Dingle was also a member of the International Steering Committee at the Asia Pacific Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Beijing.
For her continued work, IPPF present Ms Melrose Dingle with the Youth Award for Individual Contribution to Sexual Health and Rights.
Dr J S Sharpe
President
International Planned Parenthood Federation
21 November 2009