Stories of Change of Tri-people Children and their Communities by Shane Pulmano

Pasali Philippines Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Desk 20092009-2012

Contents Real change starts with a change in perception................................................................................... 5 Part I: Advocacy, Lobby and Partnership................................................................................................ 6 Children in Conflict with the Law .............................................................................................................. 7 Barangay Council for the Protection of Children ................................................................................. 8 Child At Risk................................................................................................................................................... 10 Teatro Kawagib............................................................................................................................................. 11 Part II: Children and Communities.......................................................................................................... 12 Access to Formal Education ..................................................................................................................... 13 Adopt-a-Student.......................................................................................................................................... 14 Literacy & Numeracy .................................................................................................................................. 15 Community Development: San Jose ...................................................................................................... 16 Emergency Response: dengue ................................................................................................................ 18 Changes in perception and practice ...................................................................................................... 19 Figures............................................................................................................................................................ 20 Lessons Learned ........................................................................................................................................... 20

Pasali Philippines Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Desk 20092009-2012

Areas of Coverage ❶ Aspang, San Jose Indigenous B’laan and Visayan settlers Literacy & Numeracy/ALS PCPC, Core group members Adopt-a-student scholars/TNKK ∙∙∙∙∙ page 14 Organized community cooperative ASPO with corn production & animal dispersal, Senior Citizen’s Org, Water system by Pasali Technical Group courtesy of ICAN

❷ Banwalan, San Jose ∙∙∙∙∙ page 16 Indigenous B’laan and Visayan settlers Literacy & Numeracy/ALS PCPC, Core group members Adopt-a-student scholars/TNKK Organized community cooperative BANICO with corn production & animal dispersal, Mini pharmacy, SUGa, Senior Citizens Org Successful lobby for DSWD daycare & DepEd elementary school, nearby Barangay Hall with BCPC San Jose & Child Center

❸ Bagong Silang, San Jose Indigenous T’boli community, 50 households Literacy & Numeracy/ALS ∙∙∙∙∙ page 15 PCPC, Core group members, Adopt-a-student scholars/TNKK, Organized community cooperative BASICO with corn production, Water system by Pasali Technical Group courtesy of Cola Cola CSR in partnership with AIDFI

❹ General Santos City proper Seat of Local Government, City Mayor and Councilors, DSWD, DepEd, DILG, the City Council for the Protection of Children and the Juvenile Justice Network, and members of the Consortium for the Protection of Children. City jail where 25 CICL were found. ∙∙∙∙∙ page 9 ❺ Fatima Barangay Hall ∙∙∙∙∙ page 7-8 Moro & Visayan settlers, minority Indigenous BCPC, Pasali;s Sustainable Urban Gardening Crop house, Adopt-a-student scholarships, Senior Citizens Org, Child Center ∙∙∙∙∙ page 10 home of Teatro Kawagib members ∙∙∙ page 11 ❻ office Pasali Philippines Foundation ❼ Tambler, General Santos Mixed Moro & settlers BCPC, Senior Citizens Org, Child Center ❽ Biao, Palimbang ∙∙∙∙∙ page 13 Indigenous Manobo community Successful lobby for DSWD daycare & DepEd elementary school, courtesy of Pasali Farm Support Scheme in partnership with EED: 4 organized cooperatives aquaculture, rice, corn, vegetable production; development: Water system by Pasali Technical ❾ General Santos City ∙∙∙∙∙ page 6 Children’s Desk 2009-2011: 16 PCPCs, 3 BCPCs, CCPC, JJN, Consortium for Protection of Children, ABSNET, street children, CICL, CAR

Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

Harmoniously Acquainted Fun, low key activities allow Tri-people children, parents, and duty bearers to enjoy and share their unique cultural identities. Every year more leaders from the community and indigenous peoples join. Local partners for prizes and other items include businesses such as fastfood chain Jollibee and bakery Julieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. 4

Pasali Philippines Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Desk 20092009-2012

Real change starts with a change in perception The attitude of adult society in 2007 towards children in General Santos, Mindanao was to say the least, indifferent. Children of all ages freely roamed the streets, illiterate or school drop-outs, routinely in conflict with the law, vulnerable to drugs, petty crimes and gangs. When caught with unlawful activity, it was not uncommon for local authorities to deal with them roughly. Without proper counseling and care, recidivist youth delinquents were rampant. Equally unsavory were the reports of those of domestic abuse and children in unlawful positions. Close inspection revealed that the marginalized Moro and Indigenous were most susceptible. Their home situation were not always better: financial constraints, no access to public services, clean water and food, education and state support for a child's family, and no protection from exploitation, violence, neglect and abuse. Families with no means could not bring their children to school and their children would take to work in farming, fishing, or scavenging to augment the family’s financial needs. On top of this, were the heavy discrimination they faced and the absolute lack of an information system to express real issues and problems of children of the three barangays Fatima, Tambler and San Jose. Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk in partnership with Cordaid Netherlands set about interventions to gain changes in the perceptions of stakeholders of each other - duty bearers of society who bear the responsibility of children and family care to families and children, the community to families and children, and children to each other – for the sake of children. The changes in perception then became the foundation for practical changes: systematic, coordinated response to issues, passing of codes and ordinances and their strict implementation, availability of services to meet children’s rights and increasing number of families with direct access, parents visibly spending time with their children and finally children in school with wholesome not on the street. The final move is then the turn-over of this carefully built system to these three stakeholders. This publication contains the journeys of children, parents and communities who were recipients of these changes. The stories convey one message vibrantly: if the eyes of heart and mind of the right people are opened and they are united, then three years can bring about a change of voice and a dreary state can transform into that of hope. Find these stories, video interviews of parents, authorities and partners and video clips of Pasali featured on the local news on pasaliphilippines.org/childrens pasaliphilippines.org/childrens--desk 5

Like Pasali Philippines Foundation’s Facebook toDesk keep2009updated Pasali Philippines Children’s -2012 2009 and subscribe to pasalichildrensdesk.tumblr.com

“I really feel the presence of PASALI in General Santos City. I have seen how PASALI helps a lot of Moro and Indigenous kids, particularly children who have been abused and victims of different circumstances. So, congratulations and power to all of you!” – Shirlyn Banas-Nograles Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles Vice Mayor, General Santos City

Part I: Advocacy, Lobby and Partnership Children’s Desk Partners 13 Government units 18 CSOs 17 Businesses & Individual sponsors DSWD Sealing the partnership that began more than three years ago, Pasali and DSWD signed a memorandum of agreement in 2011. The MOA includes partnership for the Pantawid Pamilya program. DOLE Pasali is since 2011 DOLE Region XII’s service provider in the conduct of livelihood skills training for youth and parents. See videos of Children's Desk Assembly of Partners, and video testimonies of partners pasaliphilippines.org/ childrenschildrens-desk

From the beginning, Pasali sought to create system of linked stakeholders and a systematic approach to children’s issues: a web of children, parents and community leaders, barangay officials, local police, health workers and teachers, and city officials and government line agencies intertwined with media, the academe, businesses, charity and non-profit agencies meeting and consulting regularly in Tri-level councils for the Protection of Children, the Juvenile Justice Network, the Consortium for the Protection of Children, Core groups, Tri-partite Technical Working Group and so on. Regular consultation moments, trainings and seminars, and ‘fun’ gatherings such as the Children’s Month, Tri-people consultations, have paved the path to open channels of communication and create a space where values are (re)introduced and fostered. Using this network, Pasali has been able to identify which issues the three barangays are most concerned with. San Jose struggles with illiteracy and high drop-out rates caused by child labour. Fatima struggles with Child-at-Risk and Children-in-Conflict-with-Law. And Tambler is most concerned with child labourers in fishing and scavenging. Practical Changes The newly formed and revived groups continue to function, bringing with them change: stakeholders move for the sake of jailed CICL (p7), 5% financial allotment granted for BCPCs, codes and ordinances passed for the protection of children (p8-9) and a tremendous increase in the number of children going and returning to school – a yearly average of 717 individuals in the past 3 years thanks to the interventions Adopt-aStudent, Barangay scholarships through BCBC’s lobby work, lobby for the establishment of Day Care Centers at DSWD and an Elementary at DepEd, educational assistance by CSWD & private individuals, and the highscholers from Biao under foster families, Literacy & Numeracy / ALS, and Vocational courses (p20). With children in school, San Jose reports 0 drop-outs in 2011, barangay Fatima records a 57% reduction of crime involving children (p8), and families in Tambler saw 568 of their kids to school rather than scavenge on the streets or work at the canning industry. Furthermore, this system has proven that the multi-stakeholder Consortium for Children’s Rights and Development (CCRD) and government agencies can be excellent ‘co-advocators’, mitigating potential ill effects of negative political dynamics between the city and the barangay government.

Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

Children in Conflict with the Law In a meeting of the Juvenile Justice Network in Barangay Fatima in 2011, 25 minors were found in the city jail held by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). At Pasali’s recommendation, members of City Council for the Protection of Children immediately conducted an ocular visit and assessment. Nearly all of them were minors when convicted of non-serious offense and imprisoned for years without due process. Living & Health Conditions Their detainment cells were so small and bare that the minor inmates slept on the floor without a bed or blanket. Others were mixed with adult inmates, vulnerable to abuse and at risk of learning and adopting higher forms of criminal behavior. Ill inmates received little medical attention. Government-led numeracy and literacy and other learning sessions were halted when the learners gradually lost the motivation to attend.

d. an assigned social worker for each CICL and e. psychological and psychiatric evaluation. Subsequently, the CCPC worked to transfer the remaining CICL to the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth in Tupi, South Cotabato. Partner NGO and CCPC comember the Marcelin Foundation submitted a Manifestation Letter to the City Government for endorsement of 13 CICL from city jail to their institution. Since then the Bureau of Jail Management also strengthened its services for the imprisoned CICL and the city-government began to determine the establishment of the Rehabilitation Center for Children and Youth. They are now allotted an exclusive detention cell, provided with occupational therapy sessions like gardening, and medical and dental care for the minors. The CCPC and the JJN continues to campaign for ‘zero child in jail.

Action and Developments Developments The CCPC intervened with legal action through the Fiscal’s Office. Three cases were dismissed and the rest transferred to the Family Court. And with the City Department of Social Welfare and Development, the youth gained access to: a. Para-legal services to CICL both in children committed to City Jail and at the processing center; b. Community-based services for the family (dialogue, basic material and financial assistance); c. Counseling & psychosocial sessions;

Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

“In our partnership with Pasali, we shifted our approach to more intensive awareness raising activities to parents of children in-conflict with the law. And we reach out with the annual distribution of school supplies through our affiliation in the Consortium for Children’s Rights.” Rodel Rosario, Chief of Police Police Barangay Fatima, GSC

Barangay Council for the Protection of Children “The cases of CAR and CICL (children-inconflict with the law) in the barangay notably decreased last 2011 compared to 2010.” - Loida Masaña, BCPC coordinator Barangay Fatima the second largest village in General Santos City used to face alarming cases of Children at risk (CAR) and in conflict with law (CICL). Gang riots and stow away cases were common as well as nonschooling goers and drop-outs. With Pasali’s involvement, the Barangay Council for Protection of Children (BCPC) was revived in Fatima (as with Tambler and San Jose) and members increasingly equipped with the right knowledge and intervention tools. In year one of the project, Pasali faced the halfhearted attitude of local government officials 8

in promoting child rights and welfare, ubiquitous lack of knowledge of children’s rights, improper care of children, and limited knowledge of the real issues in communities. Nonetheless the BCPC was firmly reestablished, and the 2nd year saw increased proper handling and execution of procedures, application of grassroots mobilization, and coordination among authority units. With BCPC efforts, the committee on education began providing primary and secondary education scholarships particularly to Moro and indigent students. Basic social services mandated by government but formerly unavailable - became available such as prenatal checkups and facility-based birth delivery, immunization, provision of vitamins Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

Barangay Council for the Protection of Children and medicines to indigent children, schoolbased conduct of deworming and feeding programs for daycare students. By the 3rd project year, child-related Barangay ordinances and resolutions were passed, like those prohibiting minor children scavengers, all businesses to sell liquor, cigarettes, and solvents (rugby) to minors, all junkshop and video-k houses to accept minor workers in their establishments, and minor children (16 years old below) to enter internet cafés during class hours without supervision of adults. Also after persistent lobbying, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) allotted the 5% of barangays’ Internal Revenue for the BCPC. In the past two years the CAR and CICL cases decreased by 57% (p20), 25 CICL’s received 9

counseling and livelihood training, and 766 children are now school-going thanks to various interventions (p20). Today, it is no longer uncommon for children and parents of barangay Fatima to directly access barangay services. Children found working in the streets during school hours were brought by duty-bearers to the right establishments. Incidentally, BCPC Fatima won the prize for the Second Functional BCPC among the 26 barangays of General Santos City in 2011. Picture CICL gather for their gardening sessions at SUGa (page 7); Several beneficiaries of the Tulong Mo Kinabukasan ko school supplies initiative (above) On pasaliphilippines.org/childrenspasaliphilippines.org/childrens-desk watch an interview with the barangay secretary on the Fatima BCPC Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

Child At Risk

“I am happy I have new friends from other

barangays who accept me for who I am even if we’ve known each other a short time.

” – May* (14) at the celebration of National Children’s Month in 2011

May* was an out-of-school youth in 2011 found by barangay tanods (village security) roaming around Barangay Fatima during curfew hours. Found to be working in prostitution, she is one of the 549 childrenat-risk and urban working street children rescued by the BCPC Fatima in 2011. She was brought to the Children’s Peace Center and there she shared she’s from a broken family and wanted to augment her mother’s meager income (P1,500.00) as a laundress. Unknown to her mother, she became a victim of sexual abuse by her step- father. And due to unfortunate circumstances, she ended up as a sex worker. At the time she was rescued she suffered from gonorrhea and hid it all from her mother. The Area Social Worker and the BCPC coordinator dealt with her family situation and subsequently gave counseling * not her real name 10

to May and her family. She goes to the City Health Office for free medical treatment. Presently, May now attends the Numeracy and Literacy sessions, Pasali’s Sustainable Urban Gardening (SUGa) livelihood trainings for youth, and helps her mother doing the laundry. She no longer goes out at night without her mother’s consent. The BCPC continues to monitor her development. In the barangays Fatima, Tambler and San Jose, CAR and CICL cases have dropped 57% from 2010 to 2011 due to the increased access to education and coordinated, preventive measures undertaken by local authorities, community leaders and parents.

CAR and CICL cases dropped

57% in barangay Fatima Picture CAR children and their parents are among the participants of Pasali’s Family days on the SUGa in Fatima (left); CICL in Fatima receive Livelihood training at Pasali’s Sustainable Urban Gardening or SUGa (right). View on pasaliphilippines.org/childrenspasaliphilippines.org/childrens-desk a videoclip of the SUGa featured by TV Patrol Socksargen of ABS-CBN Regional Television Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

See Facebook for pictures View their video on pasaliphilippines.or g/childrensg/childrensdesk.html MODEL YOUTH OF YEAR 2011 was awarded to the group by the Fatima Youth Council handed by the city Vice Mayor herself. BECOMING TRAINORS TK gave a theater workshop to 26 youth from North and South Cotabato December 2011 for Kadtuntaya Foundation & its Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (EED). A new group for training is pending. BIGGEST AUDIENCE 4,000 at city-wide event in 2010 organized by CSWD and ACE

Teatro Kawagib “The group indeed depicts the situation of

children. I feel sorry for the children abused by their parents. It is time for the council to adopt the GSC Children’s Welfare Code.

”

- City Councilor Virgie Llido, after Teatro Kawagib’s performance at the Children’s Forum

Artmen Falate (23) is one of the recipients of the theater training by Manila-based PETA hosted by Pasali in 2008. He became part of Teatro Kawagib. ‘Kawagib’ means ‘right’. Like all of its 13 members, Artmen performs and co-creates the group’s pieces, mixing speech, music, dance, sound effects, props and costumes, of their own design. Their performances mirror societal behavior and culture, in advocating the rights of vulnerable Moro and Indigenous children, youth, women, and elderly. In a delightful guise of entertainment Teatro Kawagib can: 1) expose social injustice, 2) advocate positive change, 3) portray wholesome social values. The group is unique in General Santos City, being the only Tri-people youth group that dramatizes negative conditions of CICL, child abuse, labor, discrimination, trafficking,

gangs. Their audiences in General Santos, Sarangani, and Sultan Kudarat are villages and city dwellers, businesses, religious groups, social & health providers, teachers, police, government & law makers. They are present at community events, perform at Pasali gatherings and volunteer for activities. Audiences have been known to shed tears of sadness and joy, moved by their raw, explosive talents. It organizes its own funds for its costumes and travel expenses, deftly juggling competition prize money fundraising and expense compensation from businesses and non-profit who request them. They are an example of Pasali’s operation of local partnership, fostering sustainability. For Artmen, TK is a journey of personal discovery. He discovered new things about himself, overcame weaknesses and acquired skills in production, public speaking, and organization. He is less introverted, more open, and no longer feels inferior to others or strongly distrusts those who are not of his B’laan indigenous descent. ‘I have seen and done things and places I would never before, says Artmen, ‘I am very happy to be member of Teatro Kawagib.’

Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

“With the partnership of Pasali, we learned positive things as well as things needed to be improved in the implementation of 4Ps. It is also good to note that many children are able to avail programs like installation of potable water in remote areas. Let us work together and help Pasali continue its effort in serving more children.” Monera Lidasan, Deputy Head (2011) Department of Social Welfare & Development XII

Part II: Children and Communities Childrens Desk’s interventions for communities holds among others three key actions: 1) get duty bearers to personally see the conditions in the neediest areas, 2) transfer knowledge about child rights and handling to duty bearers and parents and 3) lobby for the presence of basic facilities lacking in certain areas. This is due to the fact that city and barangay authorities often lacked the knowledge of conditions in remote areas. Also parents, community leaders and barangay duty bearers often had little knowledge of children’s rights and what conditions and behaviour constituted violation thereof. And while Pasali lobbied at the local government and line agencies to make available services in the community, the organization provided temporary direct services, like the Literacy and Numeracy sessions (Alternative Learning See on Facebook Livelihood Assistance to Learners of Numeracy & Literacy Vegetable Gardening by Numeracy & Literacy Learners

System recognized by DepEd). The number of ALS learners (graph p15) dropped in 2012 compared to previous years due to newly established schools and DepEd staffed ALS. In this greater scheme comes in the efforts of community members with means. The Consortium connects local businesses for their corporate social responsibilities in joint community outreaches. In one example alone, 150 IP children and families in San Jose received Groceries and footwear in 2011 from General Tuna Riders Association and the

Children's Desk

City Police Office. Local food businesses such as Jollibee and bakeries are nearly permanent partners in activities. This increases the awareness of city members of living

Assembly of Partners

conditions of in remote areas and subsequently, they bear the responsibility of each other

Children's Desk 2007 - 2009 View on pasaliphilippines.org/ childrenschildrens-desk.html interviews with parents, local duty bearers and partners

as a community. Children’s Desk continuously intertwines these efforts with bonding activities, games, low key gatherings, such as Pasali’s Sustainable Urban Gardening (SUGa) as an activity to join Tri-people families in an activity that is fun and renders them a small income. The following stories show the changes in conditions and the perceptions of children, their parents, and the community as results of these above mentioned efforts.

Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

Access to Formal Education 717

Biao is an upland Manobo Indigenous

school through annexation to another in

is the yearly average of children with access to education in the past 3 years (p20)

People community of 191 households in

2011. A concrete classroom is scheduled to

Barangay Napnapon, Palimbang, Sultan

be built in 2012. 150 children are enrolled in

Kudarat. It has no clean water, no paved roads, and pre-2008 its villagers were in

Grade I for 2012-2013, and 65 children go to the day care. Last March 2011, 10

Picture Manobo children of Biao celebrate their first graduation in 2009

dire lack of food. The nearest school is

Manobo

down the mountain, a 6-hour walk. Nearly

students by the mother elementary school.

Day Care San Jose The BCPC and Children’s Desk have successfully lobbied for the reestablishment of day care centers in Banwalan (43 kids) and Maligaya, San Jose. Read more on p16-17. View on Facebook pictures and essays at ‘A Picture of Biao’ Read on pasaliphilippines.org pasaliphilippines.org /agroforestry about Pasali’s lastest collaboration with the Manobo’s and 11 hectares of rubber trees.

all inhabitants were illiterate.

students

were

made

honor

Pasali Palimbang staff and Children’s Desk

With support from Pasali Netherlands,

also assisted the Manobo families with the

Pasali

community

government program Pantawid Pamilya

interventions in 2008. Children’s Desk arranged that the Chieftain’s wife, at the

and intervention brought a local DSWD representative personally to Biao when

time the only literate and highschool

issues arose.

began

series

graduate of the community, could do a 45day teacher’s course in General Santos. She became the first teacher in Biao and the community built its own school buildings from natural materials. Also, the community selected 15 most promising children and Pasali arranged their stay in foster families near a school down the valley.

All the while, the community received appropriate

technology

and

trainings

courtesy of Pasali’s Farm Support Scheme. They increased productivity, planting the System of Rice Intensification rice, corn and vegetables. From 2008 to present, the village reports that families have three

The tribe applied for a government-

meals a day, begun to acquire new household utensils, clothing and school

recognized daycare and elementary school

supplies for their children. From 2009 on,

with help from the Palimbang Pasali staff and Children’s Desk. DSWD formally

the number of school-going kids increased and parents organized a way to

recognized the day care center in 2009, and

compensate volunteer teachers.

the DepEd recognized the elementary 13

Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

Adopt-a-Student With seven siblings and and parents with limited means - her mother a laundress and father a freelance freelance photographer - Moro Norhani T. Nassa (14) was a target highschool dropdropout, until she became one of 194 AdoptAdopt-aStudent scholars scholars. AAS is a program with individual local, national and international donors who financially support children in their tuition. Children’s Desk created this program in 2007 as response to the overwhelming number of families with no school means. Now it stands in addition to the support for barangay scholarships courtesy of the BCPCs. When the Pantawid Pamilya or 4Ps began in 2011, the DSWD program by the Aquino administration for conditioned financial support education and health, Pasali released the AAS children entitled to 4P’s and transferred their scholarships to families beyond the program. As Norhani is 14 and past the age designated for 4Ps, she remained AAS scholar. Other than tuition assistance, she also is a recipient of the school supplies provided by the Consortium for the Protection of 14

Children and its Tulong Nyo Kinabukasan Ko initiative (Your help is my Future), with its members the Barangay councils Fatima, San Jose & Tambler, Philippine National Police, Helping Hands I, Radio Kabalikat communication and ABS-CBN TV network pooling local resources. Norhani’s experience with discrimination in the past made her hesitant and shy. This has changed. She now confidently leads at school and children’s activities. She gardens with her family and other Tri-people children at the Family Days at SUGa. At home she helps maintain their own backyard garden whose yields go to their own table and small neighborhood sales. Someday she says, she’ll become a teacher and teach those who need education the most. Picture Once timid and shy, AAS scholar Norhani boldly led the Muslim prayer in the Assembly of Partners 2012 attended by 73 individuals from NGOs, GOs, and business. On pasaliphilippines.org/childrenspasaliphilippines.org/childrens-desk watch an interview with Norhani’s father & view a video clip of TNKK featured on TV Patrol Socksargen, an affiliate of the ABS-CBN Regional Television Network.

Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

Literacy & Numeracy turning to the streets and would have Picture Yug-yug (right), (left) ALS learners in San Jose Watch on pasaliphilippines.o rg/childrensrg/childrens-desk a video of the Literacy and Numeracy program Also, read about ALS learner and former illiterate Monita there.

”Anything green he touches grows abundantly,”” says Godofredo Rotor, abundantly, Children’s Desk staff and mentor to

ended in crime like many of his poverty-

Rowelan Sarana Meling (19).

joined Pasali’s Literacy and Numeracy

When Rowelan, commonly known as Yugyug, volunteered to garden at the Pasali’s Fatima SUGa, he discovered he had a green thumb. The produce of his own garden now supplements his family’s meals. Born of a T’boli father and B’laan mother

Graph ALS No. of ALS learners dropped as more children find their way back to school.

with limited means, Yugyug was early exposed to poverty and discrimination. Food became scarce for him and his four siblings when his father was away working as farmer and his mother quit work due to illness.

With

parents’

incapability

tuition

pay

2008,

his in

missed nd

classes of his 2 year high school and faced total drop-out. Without prospects 15

any he

stricken peers, who would sell goods on the street that they stole. Fortunately, he course of the Alternative Learning System recognized by the Department of Education. There, he was motivated by Children’s Desk to continue his second year of highschool as an Adopt-a-Student scholar. Thus, he was able to graduate in 2010 despite the 3 kilometer daily walk home to school. At times when he came to the office at lunch for some water, concerned Pasali staff would catch him with an empty stomach and insist the boy share their own meals. Today Yugyug works at a local food processing plant while actively seeking other employment. His monthly income of P6,000 to P7,000, goes to his and siblings’ th needs. His younger 6 grader brother is now an AAS beneficiary and they spend weekends with other Tri-people families at the Fatima SUGa.

was Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

Community Development: San Jose

Barangay San Jose is community of mixed inhabitants of Blaan and T’boli indigenous people in the mountainous areas of General Santos. Children’s Desk is active in the villages Banwalan, Aspang and Bagong Silang. The high drop-out rate and juvenile delinquency among children and youth here are due to area’s remoteness and lack of basic needs and lack of sustainable income.

2010. With the council’s efforts, restoration and completion is scheduled to begin and a daycare teacher for the building is designated by the City Social Welfare.

Protection and Access to Public Public Services The Pasali Children’s Desk facilitated the establishment of the Purok Council for the Protection of Children (PCPCs), a community support structure which monitors children’s welfare. It further provides venue for children to be heard and for their concerns to be addressed. Since the formation of PCPCs, parents and community leaders became increasingly aware of the rights of the children and no cases of children stealing and begging in nearby firm or in public places have been reported. Pre-2009, visitors arriving at the airport would be swamped by begging children. Today, the airport has 0 beggars.

Pasali’s Numeracy and Literacy & availability of government services In Banwalan PASALI started the Numeracy and Literacy program in 2008 for out-ofschool children and youth since illiteracy was high and no school was yet established. Later, even parents joined, making that a total of 116. Now, DepEd designated personnel to continue this literacy program and by 2010 Children’s Desk moved it ALS services from Banwalan to the 2 villages needing the ALS intervention.

In 2011, the BCPC raised the issue of an unfinished day care center in Banwalan. This building was started in 2006 and halted in

in San Jose for 2011

DepEd noted 0 drop-outs in San Jose for 2011. The community ties this to BCPC and PCPC interventions and the successful implementation of Pantawid Pamilya.

0 school dropdrop-outs

Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

Community Development: San Jose Family development & Conflict Transformation As illiterate parents join Literacy sessions, Pasali integrated topics on Parenting Skills, Children’s Rights and Responsibilities based on UNCRC and Values Formation. Also families become harmoniously acquainted with each other and people with other ethnic backgrounds cultures during the search for the Best Backyard Garden, sport’s fest, cultural presentations, Nutrition Month, yearend gathering, and Recognition Day for Outstanding Learners. Livelihood Community Initiatives to Sustain Sustain Changes Pasali in partnership with its local network found ways to hold a livelihood skills training on Organic Farming last 2009. The ALS learners in the community used this training and Pasali’s Sustainable Urban Garden training to start corn and assorted vegetable farms. The water system installed by Pasali’s Technical Team in 3 puroks in 2010 (requested by the ICAN in coordination with the BCPC) further aided this development. Families and their children began eating better and the income from the produce increased community purchasing power. In addition in Banwalan, the amount generated from their harvest were consensually utilized 17

for the coming up of mini-pharmacy and animal dispersal activities that are presently operating.

Picture Picture A group of ALS learners consisting of children, youth and parents in San Jose (page 16), some members of PCPC convening with Children’s Desk staff (top left), a view of one ALS community’s hill crop of organic corn (top right). View on pasaliphilippines.org/childrens pasaliphilippines.org/childrenss.org/childrens-desk a video clip of the changes in Banwalan. View on Facebook pictures of Bagong Silang: Livelihood Assistance to Learners of Numeracy & Literacy, Vegetable Gardening by Numeracy & Literacy Learners, Children's Desk Assembly of Partners, CICL at the Sustainable Urban Gardening (SUGa), Children's Desk 2007 – 2009, Hydraulic Pump at Bagong Silang

“We will make Pasali as our accredited copartner through provision of financial assistance for programs to the parents of working and out-of-school children.” Jimmy Marquez Division Chief Department of Labor and Employment XII

Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

Emergency Response: dengue In 2010, General Santos City experienced a dengue outbreak with children from the disadvantaged areas of the city. More than 20 children were hospitalized in severe stages with dangerously low platelet counts. They were desperately in need of donated blood. With the Philippine Red Cross lack of stock (at the time) and lack of a city blood bank, Pasali organized in partnership with Red Cross the first of several bloodletting events with community leaders, Radio Kabalikat Communication, Philippine National Police, Barangay Councils. Here, government officials and employees, members of CSOs, PNP and others donated their blood. This event was combined with a community briefing on preventive measures and cleaning to prevent new infection, and a medical clinic where primarily Indigenous Children were recipients. Meanwhile Pasali Netherlands responded with tip for a herbal treatment which several families tried and saw their children recover. In 2011 Pasali also assisted various families whose children were affected with the illness. One example is of a father of five whose 18

fourth child died of the illness while two were still in the hospital. Grieving and financially burdened, he contacted Pasali who referred him to various groups and non-profit organizations like the RD Foundation. He was able to settle the bill and bring his children home. At the moment, his children are well and going to school. Picture Fire outbreak in 2008 (left) to which Pasali offered referral assistance, Pasali’s organized medical relief in North Palimbang with Dr. Cagape of Hearts & Brains (right) See of the dengue outbreak (2010), the fire in Fatima (2008), to cholera among the Manobo (2008), and war in northern Palimbang (2011) videos & pictures on Facebook & pasaliphilippines.org/childrenspasaliphilippines.org/childrens-desk. desk

“PASALI resourcefully works beyond its boundaries. It reaches even the remotest, war-afflicted areas of Northern Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat where there are displaced families needing immediate relief and rehabilitation interventions.” Dr. Roel Cagape, Doctor at Hearts and Brains President Area-Based Standard Network Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

Changes in perception and practice Changes Changes in children’s situation and perception With a drop in CAR and CICL cases, children working and begging in the street are brought back to their homes. They and their families receive assistance from duty-bearers. Children like May increasingly confide their troubles to parents and adults who respond in the proper way to their needs. Former school drop-outs by lack of means such as Norhani fostering in school, one of the 717 children yearly with access to education in the past 3 years (p20). She like many others has become friends with other children regardless of their religion and ethnic backgrounds. Change in the perception of parents Parents have begun to grasp a certain ‘we can do something about it’ attitude and are developing a sense of self-esteem and ownership over the interventions as they directly access services for their children. They are more visibly present, participative, outspoken and assertive. In time hopefully, this is the start of the journey from an apparent state of hopelessness to a state of hopefulness. Change in perception of dutyduty-bearers The once indifferent attitude of stakeholders is replaced by a genuine concern to ensure that child rights and welfare are met. Lawmakers realize that proper laws and execution makes a difference and have passed child-protective ordinances. Authorities and families report that maltreated of children by duty bearers have dwindled to almost nothing. Legal action and proper facilities are erected for juvenile delinquents. Changes in Community for the benefit of the children To support the changes in education and health, the community increased economic productivity and purchasing power. With that comes what seems like increased social cohesion among multi-cultural constituents of the three target barangays. Pasali increases its its advocacy role From 2012 onwards, Pasali will increasingly partner with government and other stakeholders to ensure the proper application of programs such as Pantawid Pamilya. Children’s Desk is to facilitate the execution of a Modified CCT or 4Ps for 1000 children. Meanwhile, partners will be found to take-over its former direct services and the roles of the Consortium and private sector will be increased so that the community carries its own transformation. As three years come to an end and the new ones begin, time and new investment will tell where these forged ties will go. 19

Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

Lessons Learned Figures CAR/CICL ❶ The grassroots mobilization First Quarter

2010

Children-at-Risk (CAR)

2011 99

300+ Children-in-Conflict-with-the-Law (CICL)

Children begging on the streets and airport

- 57% CAR & CICL

Source: Barangay Fatima (1st quarter of 2010 and 2011)

of community leaders, parents, church and religious groups should be the start in strengthening the BCPC. BCPC The “top-down” approach fails as it doesn’t reflect true community aspirations. Also the link between the grassroots initiatives and authorities should be clearly defined.

❷ Bringing authorities on sites

Figures Educational Assistance

needing change is an effective tool to persuade them into action.

717

❸ Line agencies such as The

is the yearly average of children with access to education in the past 3 years

DILG, the DWSD, and the Consortium for Children’s Rights and Development (CCRD) can be coco-advocators bridging city and barangay political leaders. They can sustain continuity despite a changing government workforce.

❹ Incorporating intercultural solidarity work and basic peace building into the project scheme are effective trigger mechanisms for conflict transformation.

❺ Capacitating the parents and community leaders builds the project outcomes and impact sustainability. This can be a continuity mechanism despite a changing government workforce.

❻ Performing arts is an effective advocacy and lobby tool particularly when the chosen audience are stakeholders or public officials.

Access to education gained through: 1) Formal Education: Adopt-a-Student scholars, Barangay scholarships through BCBC’s lobby work, Children’s Desk and BCPC lobby for the establishment of the Day Care in Banwalan (DSWD), the lobbied for Day Care in Biao (DSWD), and the lobbied for Elementary in Biao (DepEd), educational assistance given by CSWD & private individuals, and the highscholers from Biao under foster families. 2) Literacy & Numeracy / ALS 3) Vocational courses (Organic Farming/SUGa) and (Computer Literacy)

❼ The multimedia activity recording can be used to monitor the progress and keep the efforts on track.

Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

Photography for Pasali Philippines Foundation, Inc Esnaira Ansa Malaguial Godofredo Rotor Jofellini S. Pulmano Marilyn Ty Renato Mocsin Mary Dawn Mantala Richel Anim Rolly C Monton

Backpage Page 5, 8, 13, 14, 15 (right), 17 (left) Cover, Page 7 (all), 10 (left/right) Page 17 (right), Page 18 (left) Page 18 (right) Page 16, 11, Page 15 (left)

Cover page

Highscholer Rochelle is one of the 15 students from Biao who lives during the week with a foster family so that she can go to the high school down at the valley.

Back page

A young scholar from Biao smiles as he hopes to reach the top 10 of his school. The ten best students get to go to General Santos to join Children’s Desk yearly Children’s Congress. For many kids from Biao this is a dream, for all except the ten have never been to the city.

Colofon STORIES OF CHANGE is a publication of Pasali Philippines Foundation on Children’s Desk multi-stakeholder intervention (2009-2012) for Tri-people children in General Santos, Mindanao, Philippines in partnership with migrants in the Netherlands of Pasali Netherlands, people organizations in General Santos, the private sector, local government, and local and international non-profit organizations such as Cordaid Netherlands.

Writers Richel Ventura-Anim Mary Dawn Mantala Jofellini S. Pulmano Editing & Design Jofellini S. Pulmano Contributors Esnaira Ansa Malaguial Rolly C. Monton Marilyn Ty Godofredo Rotor Renato Mocsin Ahmed Harris Pangcoga

Pasali Philippines Foundation Fil-Am Road, 11-B Barangay Fatima, General Santos, Mindanao 9500, Philippines (+63) (0) (83) 552155 pasaliphilippines@yahoo.com www.pasaliphilippines.org “Migrants initiative transforms community through technology and Tri-people empowerment.”

Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012

STORIES OF CHANGE is a publication of Pasali Philippines Foundation on multi--stakeholder Children’s Desk multi intervention (2009(2009-2012) for TriTri-people children in General Santos, Mindanao, Philippines in partnership with migrants Pasali in the Netherlands of Netherlands, people organizations in General Santos, Santos, the private sector, local and local and government, international nonnon-profit organizations such as Cordaid Netherlands. “Migrants initiative transforms community through technology and Tri-people empowerment.” © 2012 Pasali Philippines Foundation, Inc

Pasali Philippines Children’s Desk 20092009-2012