A YEAR IN
INES PHILIPP09 SUMMARY REPORT
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GOOD REASONS why Plan works in Philippines
FRENCH GUIANA
• Over 40% of people in rural areas do not have adequate sanitation
A Water Association charts their progress.
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• 17% of children do not enrol in primary school
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• Records show a rise in levels of physical and sexual abuse, neglect and exploitation of children
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• Helping to improve education for children from nursery level onwards
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• Helping poor families increase their incomes. • Helping local government officials to protect children’s rights and get them involved in community development
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• Protecting the health of children and young people through better water and sanitation practises
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Our priorities in Philippines
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PHILIPPINES FACTS
A father and son head of to the farm for the day.
Southern Leyte
INDONESIA
Camotes Islands, Cebu
Capital: Manila
Zamboanga
Population: 86 million
PHILIPPINES MALAYSIA Language: Filipino Country Office
BRUNEI
Programme Climate: The Unit Philippines has a tropical climate and is usually hot and humid. The average yearly temperature is around 26.5°C. There are three recognized seasons: ‘Tag-init’ or ‘Tag-araw’ (the hot season or summer from March to May), ‘Tag-ulan’ (the rainy season from June
toDavao November), and ‘Taglamig’ (the cold season from General Santos December to EAST February). TIMORThe southwest monsoon (from May to October) is known as the ‘Habagat’, and the dry winds of the northeast monsoon (from November to April) as the ‘Amihan’.
PAPUA fromPALAU manufacturing, mining, NEW remittances from overseas GUINEA Filipinos, and service industries such as tourism and business process outsourcing. The daily income for 45% of the population of The Philippines is less than US$ 2 a day.
Economy: The Philippines is a newly industrialized country with an economy anchored in agriculture. There are substantial contributions INDONESIA
A YEAR IN
PHILIPPINES SUMMARY REPORT
09
FOCUS ON: PROTECTING VULNERABLE CHILDREN Plan is working in the poorest areas of the Philippines to promote children’s rights, keep children and young people safe from harm and support those who are particularly vulnerable. We promote birth registration initiatives, so children receive a birth certificate and with it a recognised identity and rights. We offer training on parenting skills to strengthen family relationships. We raise awareness of child protection issues in communities and assist local support groups. We also help communities to put systems in place to prevent abuse and support children who are recovering from it.
BETTER PARENTS MAKE STRONGER FAMILIES Children learn to protect fish habitat.
The Bigger Picture
Plan is working with children, families and whole communities to address the problems that Philippines faces. This report can only tell a small part of that story. As a further insight, last year we also: • Raised the quality of healthcare for children by supporting training for health workers and refurbishment of health facilities • Improved access to education by establishing 76 village-based learning centres providing basic literacy and life skills training to 2,344 students unable to attend formal schooling • Helped to protect children from harm by training social workers, village leaders, community volunteers, children and others on child protection issues • Supported the production of a video series on typhoons, floods and climate change to help schools teach children about natural disasters and how their communities can prepare for them. Your support as a sponsor is crucial to achieving these positive results. So on behalf of the communities, partner organisations, and most of all the children we work with – thank you!
“Changing generations of beliefs around fatherhood has not been easy, but gradually participants are finding new ways to interact with their children.” To learn more about Plan’s work in Philippines visit plan.org.au/ourwork/asia/philippines
Produced for Philippines by the Australian National Office.
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ina has just shared an unusual sighting with the wives in her village, Salcedo in east Samar, eastern Philippines:: “I woke up one morning surprised to see my husband walking towards the stream with our dirty laundry,” she exclaims. “He has never done the laundry before.”
at school earlier, better groomed and with their homework done. Parents are also taking a greater interest in school activities and in being part of parent-teacher and community associations.
It’s surprising because in rural villages in Philippines families tend to be run on traditional lines. Women take care of the children and the home while men bring in the family income. Following tradition may work for some families, but it’s not always the best thing for their children.
A large part of Plan’s parenting training focuses on encouraging fathers to play a more active role in bringing up their children. Teachers had long been convinced that children benefited when their fathers were involved in their care and education. Changing generations of beliefs around fatherhood has not been easy, but gradually participants are finding new ways to interact with their children.
Working together That’s why Plan has been supporting parenting training in Gina’s area. The training brings together parents to learn more about each other’s roles and how they can work together to provide a secure and stimulating environment for their children to grow up in. Over 1,300 couples have taken part in the training, which is a joint project with schools in Salcedo, the Eastern Samar State University, the municipal government and the local Church Charismatic Community. The project has focussed on giving parents the information and skills they need to give their children a more positive future. Becoming more involved in their children’s education has been just one aspect of the programme that parents have embraced, and it is already paying dividends. “Parents are now minding their children’s assignments and lessons,” says Rose Baganes, Salcedo District Supervisor for the Department of Education. Teachers are noting that children arrive
Involving fathers
Normando realises now that the way he used to discipline his son could not only have caused him physical harm but was not as effective as more positive ways of encouraging good behaviour. “I feel guilty now about the way I disciplined my son,” he says. “I learned it from my parents and I thought it was the right way. I will apologise to him when I get home.” As parents put their new skills into practice and share responsibilities, their families are becoming stronger. “We talk a lot about our plans for our family,” says Gina’s husband Arjay. Gina and Arjay are positive role models for their children, as are all the parents who’ve taken part in the training. Letting go of older ideas on parenting to make way for fresh approaches has sometimes been a challenge, but Ronald, a trainer and father of seven explains: “What is important is that we have started on that road and we have seen positive results. We are banking on that.” Some names have been changed for child protection and privacy purposes.
“I feel guilty now about the way I disciplined my son, I learned it from my parents and I thought it was the right way. I will apologise to him when I get home.”
plan.org.au