ini)ated by Caritas Masbate served as an eye opener that child labor and other forms of abuses is a challenge to local development ( e.g Symposia on Related Laws on Children and Organizing Child Advocates). • Caritas Masbate developed strategies on keeping children safe. (pls refer to the CPP) • Child Protec)on included in en)re ac)vi)es of Caritas Masbate in all project areas.
Child Advocates in our project areas. • Caritas Masbate is a member of the PCLC (Provincial Child Labour CommiLee) and MCPC (Municipal Council for the Protec)on of Children) in our project areas. • Caritas Masbate together with other line agencies like DOLE, DEpED, PNP and etc; lobbied for the approval of the Provincial Ordinance adap)ng the R.A 9231 (An) Child Labour Law) and alloca)ng budget yearly.
harayo an iloy kag wara na sin ama”, (It is very hard to live specially when your mother is in a far place and you don’t have a father anymore). I was touched with this statement by Gie (not her real name) who, at her age of 13 felt the biLerness of life through poverty. They were seven siblings and their mother was in Laguna working as housemaid. To survive, her siblings were adopted by their rela)ves un)l Liza their cousin (not her real name) built a small house for them so they can be together. Asked how she and her two siblings, Ann and Isay (not their real name) involved in child-‐labor, they simply answered,”dahil po sa kahirapan”(it’s because of poverty). Gie sell viands before going to school and she washes their clothes and does household chores while Ann and Isay helped her. While Gie sell viands, Isay sell fried banana in other si)o, a kilometer walk from Poblacion. Everyday, she doesn’t mind the heat and )red thinking it would be of help to her family.
supplies and symposia was given by ILO-‐IPEC project in partnership with different organiza)on and government agencies, the Caritas-‐Masbate, DepEd, LGU and DOLE. These interven)ons help these children realize the importance of educa)on because through this, they will aLain their future. I asked them what they feel when they receive these interven)ons, they said “Salamat kay nahatagan kami sin importansya kag bulig na mga pobre. Daku po ini na bagay para sa amon kay mas mahahatagan na namon sin pansin an amon pagklase kag an amon pangarap sa buhay agod mahali na kami sa kahirapan”( thank you for the importance and help that has been given to us. This is a big thing for us because we can now concentrate on our studies and on our dreams that would help us be removed from poverty).
In the course of implementa)on so far we haven’t encountered any challenges yet. • Any changes your organizaLon has gone through to strengthen protecLon of children? • Caritas Masbate have already approved Child Protec)on Policy (CPP) and integrated in the contract of the staff. • The CPP is known by all staff members of the organiza)on. • Protec)on Code of Conduct for visitors are implemented • Caritas Masbate has comprehensive case management system is in place: • Caritas Masbate has Child Protec)on officer assigned.