The Kabataang Gabay sa Positibong Pamumuhay started as a peer support program under the Peer Counselling for Positive Lifestyle Promotion of the Unlad Kabataan Program (UKP) of the DSWD and founded on May 18, 1998 in Veterans Village as a local chapter of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) Iloilo City Federation. At the height of devolution pursuant to Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, the youth program among the DSWD’s service delivery functions was devolved to local government units. To sustain its work, in 2003 organized itself as an independent survivor group and at this time dedicated for boy victims of exploitation, drugs, and crime. It became autonomous from the PYAP through the National Youth Commission National Youth Registration Program. A year later, was registered as a non-stock non-profit organization in July 17, 2004 at the Securities and Exchange Commission. Currently, the organization's membership are boys and men who are victims, and survivors of violence, illicit use, abuse and trade of prohibited drugs; organized crime; exploitation; and slavery. PYAP alumni who are beneficiaries of the DSWD Unlad Kabataan Program are integrated as priority members in the leadership portfolio of the organization. The organization flagship program is the Meaningful Engagement of People at risk or MEPA inspired by the GIPA/MIPA and the Denver Principles. The River of Life Initiatives (ROLi) Program that adopts the MEPA framework is dedicated for high risk youth groups, recovering drug users, people living with HIV, and survivors of exploitation and human trafficking. As a survivor support group, it task itself in challenging deep-rooted social norm ingrained in machismo culture of society that confer men as offenders and that violence is their nature and early sexual engagement and violent behavior a passage to manhood. Survivors leading the group strongly believe that this lingering gender construct neglect men's vulnerabilities and capacities to overcome violence--rendering cases of male victimization unreported, leading to severe exclusion to social protection policies, services and interventions as well their role in combating and violence in society. The organization is run through the voluntary action of its elected officers and members through its community chapters strategically organized in the corridors of exploitation in the country. Local chapters are composed of loosely organized informal groups of youth located in depressed communities, red-light districts, sea and land-based transport terminals, ports and rural transit points and the tourism hot-spots across the country. Elected leaders from its local chapters forms the National Council comprised of good standing members with exceptional track record of transformation that represents the highest governing body of the organization. The National Council is based in Iloilo City that connects its local chapters from across Visayas, Mindanao and Luzon. Projects are coordinated and managed through its National Directorate that liaise with local chapters in implementing membership activities. A Board of Trustees composed of government and civil society champions serves as the highest policy making body of the organization.
