“Youth leadership becomes powerful when it is grounded in rights, not charity.

A rights-based approach means:

• persons with disabilities have the right to safety and information,
• they must be included in planning—not just rescued later,
• and DRRM systems should remove barriers instead of expecting persons with disabilities to “adjust.”

Youth can help shift mindsets by:

• emphasizing co-creation (not token consultation),
• valuing lived experience,
• and ensuring that everyone—from homes to schools to barangays—is represented.

Inclusion is not an extra step — it is a requirement for safety.”