Phil: Keeping Children Safe Seminar

KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE: A SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY LEADERS’ COLLABORATIVE ADVOCACY
(Philippine Sector)

Thirty Five (35) participants coming from Nine (9) Notre Dame Schools in the Diocese of Marbel and Five Marist Schools (Marbel, Kidapawan, Cotabato, Espina and Lagao) together with their respective local community-barangay level leaders attended a Seminar Workshop on Keeping Children Safe: A School and Community Leaders’ Collaborative Advocacy on November 16-17, 2017 held at OND Mission Center, General Santos City. The workshop was aimed at strengthening the partnership of the schools and the community leaders in the protection of children. Specifically, the seminar modules tackled the key role and functions of the Barangay Child Protection Council (BCPC) of which the school is a member. It also clarified the collaborative efforts of the school and community leaders in working for the best interest of children.

Mrs. Naira Aratuc from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), shared about Understanding Children and the Risk-Factors in the Philippine Context. Mrs. Lourdes Gambala, a Barangay Councilor and Mrs. Ma. Lucita Romaquin, a volunteer street educator, shared testimonies of their active involvement in the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC). Br. Crispin Betita, FMS, tackled the topics Case Management and Guidelines for a Community Based Diversion and Prevention Programs for Children at Risk.

Br. Ted Fernandez, FMS, the Chair of the East Asia Province Child Rights and Protection Committee expressed his hopes to the participants that they would gain more knowledge and broaden their perspective in school and community in handling cases that would lead to the proper care and guidance of children and youth.

As the training ended, a number of participants expressed the realization that, indeed, “…the welfare of our students and the children does not only lie in the hands of the teachers alone. It calls for a collaborative effort with the barangay officials and the authorities in the community.”

This Seminar Workshop is the third wave of the series of seminars funded by Misean Cara and partly by Maristen Solidarity International, Germany, through FMSI.

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