youth helping youth program
The Youth Helping Youth Program is an extension or the next tier of the Child Protection Clinic's work. Initiated last year 2013 at the first YEHEY camp in Cavite, its objective is to train young people from the many CPC areas and other FMA oratories to be ambassadors for child protection in their communities, to build on the previous work of the CPC.
YEHEY Camp 2
Day 1.
The second YEHEY camp was held August 23-24, 2014 at the Mornese Center of Spirituality, Pansol, Calamba, Laguna. There were 110 youngsters representing all the CPC areas and other youth centers of the Salesian sisters. Participants came from several cities in Metro Manila such as Taguig, Marikina, Quezon City, Manila, and Makati as well as others from Negros, Pampanga and Laguna. Five LVF youth advocates facilitated the Youth Helping Youth CAMP led by Ms. Jonalyn Bren.
Begining with opening prayers and a photo session then an introduction by Sr Marivic Sta Ana FMA where she said 'Yehey is youth helping youth. It is a time of sharing our life. It is a time of bringing up issues affecting the youth. It is also a time of making plans as leaders to help the youth. These are the reasons why you are here, to deepen, to enhance, to echo and to plan for the different youth centers for the good of all; which set the tone for the event and encouraged the participants to engage and participate with the presentations and discussion that followed. All of the presenters and facilitators were the young girls from LVF, they prepared and delivered the program with only occasional input from the Sisters.
Having established their expectations for the camp, the morning continued with an interactive session where the presenter asked 'are you important and why ?' The conclusion was because of their identity as children of God; that life is a gift from Him; we are a gift to each other and can use our freedom to decide to do good. They symbolized their life journey as a strong foundation of a house because even if trials come they will not lose hope because only God can help. They can cling to God. So Even with the ups and downs of life, God has a plan for us. God came to the world to save us from our sins.
The next activity called 'lights, camera, action, freeze' invited participants to show dramatically three different times, past, present and future and how things were. The first group showed people talking, praying together, attending Mass and showing respect for elders. The second group showed bullying, youth taking up vices like smoking, theft and children having to work. The last group showed things like computer addiction, drinking, gambling, looking at facebook, texting, selfies instead of studying...a bleak picture of present and future times.
The next session was a lecture by Jonalyn on the UNCRC (Children's rights) where she described in detail the 4 principal rights being:-
1. Survival- right to life, basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, right to a name and nationality.
2. Participation- can play, join, be one in the society you are in, right to an opinion, have own free will.
3. Development- to study, join contests in school.
4. Protection-protected from abuses in the home, community, school, playground, streets.
The second YEHEY camp was held August 23-24, 2014 at the Mornese Center of Spirituality, Pansol, Calamba, Laguna. There were 110 youngsters representing all the CPC areas and other youth centers of the Salesian sisters. Participants came from several cities in Metro Manila such as Taguig, Marikina, Quezon City, Manila, and Makati as well as others from Negros, Pampanga and Laguna. Five LVF youth advocates facilitated the Youth Helping Youth CAMP led by Ms. Jonalyn Bren.
Begining with opening prayers and a photo session then an introduction by Sr Marivic Sta Ana FMA where she said 'Yehey is youth helping youth. It is a time of sharing our life. It is a time of bringing up issues affecting the youth. It is also a time of making plans as leaders to help the youth. These are the reasons why you are here, to deepen, to enhance, to echo and to plan for the different youth centers for the good of all; which set the tone for the event and encouraged the participants to engage and participate with the presentations and discussion that followed. All of the presenters and facilitators were the young girls from LVF, they prepared and delivered the program with only occasional input from the Sisters.
Having established their expectations for the camp, the morning continued with an interactive session where the presenter asked 'are you important and why ?' The conclusion was because of their identity as children of God; that life is a gift from Him; we are a gift to each other and can use our freedom to decide to do good. They symbolized their life journey as a strong foundation of a house because even if trials come they will not lose hope because only God can help. They can cling to God. So Even with the ups and downs of life, God has a plan for us. God came to the world to save us from our sins.
The next activity called 'lights, camera, action, freeze' invited participants to show dramatically three different times, past, present and future and how things were. The first group showed people talking, praying together, attending Mass and showing respect for elders. The second group showed bullying, youth taking up vices like smoking, theft and children having to work. The last group showed things like computer addiction, drinking, gambling, looking at facebook, texting, selfies instead of studying...a bleak picture of present and future times.
The next session was a lecture by Jonalyn on the UNCRC (Children's rights) where she described in detail the 4 principal rights being:-
1. Survival- right to life, basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, right to a name and nationality.
2. Participation- can play, join, be one in the society you are in, right to an opinion, have own free will.
3. Development- to study, join contests in school.
4. Protection-protected from abuses in the home, community, school, playground, streets.
The next session was on violence; identified as being Physical, emotional, verbal or sexual abuse. To illustrate these we watched a film called 'Human Trafficking' which illustrated all of the above in the context of trafficking. This is a powerful film which really educated the viewer as to how these criminals operate in recruiting and controlling their victims. Several shocking story lines from child abduction and/or sale in the Philippines for the Paedophile sex trade to young women trafficked from Eastern Europe to brothels in the USA, duped into thinking they were to be fashion models or being romanced. (see film trailer below)
Following the film show, participants were asked for their thoughts on what they had seen , what did they feel, what character made an impression and what lessons were learned which included:Follow the advice of parents, they want what is best for us, don’t trust anybody, think before you decide, don’t be impulsive. You can overcome the trials in life. Be contented of what you have. There is no problem in dreaming as long
as it will not bring you to damnation. What you do to people it will go back to
you.
A discussion led by Michelle followed where she highlighted the 4 elements of human trafficking depicted in the film:-
1 .Recruitment – eg. Modelling, you are recruited if you are interested.
2. Means-transfer from one place to another eg. Rode in an airplane, ship, taxi Walked in Mexico, US, passed by many mountains, many are being harmed and being abused.
3. Act- why are you being transported? Betrayal – like what happened to Elena or Deceit – it is not modelling.
4. Purpose – to make you a sexual slave, a prostitute, not only girls but boys as well. Boys are not always safe. For cyber sex, video, sale of organs, child labor.
Sr Marivic Sta. Ana FMA concluded the discussion by adding that trafficking was the 3rd largest business in the world, modern day slavery and a chilling statistic that there are now 27 million victims of slavery at present. She also alerted us to the practice of organ trafficking and cited an example of a teacher in Singapore who was recruited and had all her organs harvested over a few weeks and of course died..
During the afternoon Sr Sarah Garcia FMA also gave a reflection the essence being 'Live Jesus, choose joy' . The day ended in prayer and some socials.
A discussion led by Michelle followed where she highlighted the 4 elements of human trafficking depicted in the film:-
1 .Recruitment – eg. Modelling, you are recruited if you are interested.
2. Means-transfer from one place to another eg. Rode in an airplane, ship, taxi Walked in Mexico, US, passed by many mountains, many are being harmed and being abused.
3. Act- why are you being transported? Betrayal – like what happened to Elena or Deceit – it is not modelling.
4. Purpose – to make you a sexual slave, a prostitute, not only girls but boys as well. Boys are not always safe. For cyber sex, video, sale of organs, child labor.
Sr Marivic Sta. Ana FMA concluded the discussion by adding that trafficking was the 3rd largest business in the world, modern day slavery and a chilling statistic that there are now 27 million victims of slavery at present. She also alerted us to the practice of organ trafficking and cited an example of a teacher in Singapore who was recruited and had all her organs harvested over a few weeks and of course died..
During the afternoon Sr Sarah Garcia FMA also gave a reflection the essence being 'Live Jesus, choose joy' . The day ended in prayer and some socials.
Day 2
Princess and Cecil led the Shibashi and all assembled for morning prayer and a recap of the following days activities and progress. A small number of participants had attended last years YEHEY and they gave an update on the actions they had taken when they returned to their respective communities after the camp;
The rest of the morning was a talk by Jonalyn on UNCRC in more depth than the introduction the day before along the lines of :-
The basic principles are non-discrimination, survival and development, child participation and best interest of the child.
1.Survival rights - right to life, adequate standard of living, health care, parental care and support and social security
2.Development - everybody has a right to education, everybody has a right to leisure, recreation and cultural activity so as not to be stressed, no discrimination against disabled children, or indigenous people like Aetas. They are there during Partihan.
3.Protection - name and nationality. How can you be protected if you do not have a name and a nationality?
Right to privacy eg. If Jane gave somebody a letter and Carlo opened the letter. Jane has the right to confront Carlo. Same thing with diaries. Unless you are the one who will give it.
Protected against exploitation and abuse like sexual exploitation, child labor, trafficking, drug abuse, child abuse and maltreatment.
Alternative means of child care - the care should be correct.
Armed conflict, in war, refugee children.
Torture, deprivation of liberty and death penalty - eg. A college student died of hazing. We have no right to hurt anybody.
Children in conflict with the law - 15 years old and below, if they committed crime, they should be protected, they should not be imprisoned. They should be brought to Boys’ Town.
Recovery and reintegration - in the past, in the NGOs, they should recover to live a new life.
4.Participation - We need to share our opinion. We need to participate in assembly and association. We need to be heard in judicial and administrative proceedings. We need to have freedom of expression.
The 10 rights must have corresponding obligations and responsibilities.
Princess and Cecil led the Shibashi and all assembled for morning prayer and a recap of the following days activities and progress. A small number of participants had attended last years YEHEY and they gave an update on the actions they had taken when they returned to their respective communities after the camp;
- Marikina-taught CRC and their obligations (in Tagalog so that children will listen)
- Sta. Mesa-made the children understand that they have rights and corresponding responsibilities
- Taguig-got recycled materials , sold them and proceeds went for feeding malnourished children. Swept surroundings during Saturdays and Sundays
- Canlubang-shared what they had learned on CRC
- Judge-shared what they had learned on CRC
- Bacood-explained rights to the community
- Hillcrest-explained the 10 rights and did some community service during Saturdays
The rest of the morning was a talk by Jonalyn on UNCRC in more depth than the introduction the day before along the lines of :-
The basic principles are non-discrimination, survival and development, child participation and best interest of the child.
1.Survival rights - right to life, adequate standard of living, health care, parental care and support and social security
2.Development - everybody has a right to education, everybody has a right to leisure, recreation and cultural activity so as not to be stressed, no discrimination against disabled children, or indigenous people like Aetas. They are there during Partihan.
3.Protection - name and nationality. How can you be protected if you do not have a name and a nationality?
Right to privacy eg. If Jane gave somebody a letter and Carlo opened the letter. Jane has the right to confront Carlo. Same thing with diaries. Unless you are the one who will give it.
Protected against exploitation and abuse like sexual exploitation, child labor, trafficking, drug abuse, child abuse and maltreatment.
Alternative means of child care - the care should be correct.
Armed conflict, in war, refugee children.
Torture, deprivation of liberty and death penalty - eg. A college student died of hazing. We have no right to hurt anybody.
Children in conflict with the law - 15 years old and below, if they committed crime, they should be protected, they should not be imprisoned. They should be brought to Boys’ Town.
Recovery and reintegration - in the past, in the NGOs, they should recover to live a new life.
4.Participation - We need to share our opinion. We need to participate in assembly and association. We need to be heard in judicial and administrative proceedings. We need to have freedom of expression.
The 10 rights must have corresponding obligations and responsibilities.
In their area groups, the participants then worked on an exercise on problem solving and the use of the problem tree. The question 'what are the problems with youth today ? was addressed by each area. The problems identified included;-
1. teenage pregnancy
2. media – internet instead of studies
3. vices
4. sanitation
5. no venue for sessions
6. demolition of informal dwellings
7. poor parenting
8. lack of education
This was followed by a discussion of the steps in problem solving as follows:-
1. Purpose
2. What to do?
3. Resources
4. When to do it? Duration?
The Solutions should be SMARTO ! That is to say, S for specific, M for measurable, A for attainable, R for realistic, T for time bound and O for output oriented.
The final output of the weekend was a Manifesto written by Mrs Cueto and edited by Marvin, Paul, Meryl, Christian and Sr. Angie. English and Tagalog downloadable versions are below.
To close the day, 2 representatives per area came forward, one to sit down and one to wash the feet of the other. So we understand that we are to serve one another like Jesus did. We ended in prayer.
1. teenage pregnancy
2. media – internet instead of studies
3. vices
4. sanitation
5. no venue for sessions
6. demolition of informal dwellings
7. poor parenting
8. lack of education
This was followed by a discussion of the steps in problem solving as follows:-
1. Purpose
2. What to do?
3. Resources
4. When to do it? Duration?
The Solutions should be SMARTO ! That is to say, S for specific, M for measurable, A for attainable, R for realistic, T for time bound and O for output oriented.
The final output of the weekend was a Manifesto written by Mrs Cueto and edited by Marvin, Paul, Meryl, Christian and Sr. Angie. English and Tagalog downloadable versions are below.
To close the day, 2 representatives per area came forward, one to sit down and one to wash the feet of the other. So we understand that we are to serve one another like Jesus did. We ended in prayer.
The day finished with another photo call where certificates of attendance were presented to participants by Sr Marivic Sta. Ana FMA