All 32 participants, mostly coming from the Bearers of Hope partnership and PCMN partners, were provided with a training workbook containing 18 Bible- study lessons which can be used for cell group meetings, Bible studies or Sunday schools.The seminar was conducted through the Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture (ISACC), a research and training organization specializing in development, missiology and cross cultural studies.
Some 150 children from 17 organizations and churches participated. The children were divided into 3 groups focused on the chosen issues. They learned the basic information about the issue and were given opportunity of exploring ways to share the issue to their peers in a creative way with some guidance from the adult staff. Each group formulated their work plan at the end of the training. Aside from learning, the children had some free moments of getting to know the other participants. The working group in cooperation with the different groups will be conducting follow-up activities to help the child advocates enhanced their skill. Work on the advocacy toolkit will likewise be given full attention.
Through the years, PCMN has an informal relationship with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. We attended meetings that they convene, invited some of their key people as speakers to network events, e.g. training, and consulted them for various concerns. With almost all of the network’s member-organizations being licensed and accredited by DSWD, it would be ironic for PCMN to continue operating without formalizing its status as a registered entity with the agency.
Seventy-one youth leaders attended the 3-day DRR Camp at Binangonan, Rizal held on May 23-25, 2011. The camp mimicked the situation in an evacuation centers where resources and space are limited. Helped by ten adult, the youth, led the activities such as group sessions on God’s view and rights of children, stewardship of creation including environment, safety measures on water and fire and earthquake drills, lecturette on DRRM Act of 2010, HIV & Aids and Reproductive Health, devotional studies, talents’ night, band jam, and brief action planning.
The flipchart is the main educational material for community education targeting 1,500 community leaders and local barangay local government units. It also draws salient concepts from the DRRNetPhils primer on Republic Act 10121 or the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010″ and on materials sourced from Unicef, World Vision Development Foundation, Scandinavian Phils. And Tearfund.
