First, I wish to thank everyone for joining us in this our celebration of thirty-five years working for the rights of children in communities.
Thirty-five years ago, my Lola Sising founded The Share A Child Movement Inc to solicit funds from friends and concerned Cebuano benefactors to help keep poor children in school. Thirty-five years ago, I was only 4 years old. I was fortunate enough to have a family that cherished me, and who provided me with my basic needs (food, shelter, clothes, a good education, and a little extra luxuries now and then). Unfortunately, not all children in the Philippines are as lucky as I am. Hence, it is the responsibility of those who have been abundantly blessed to share what they have and to do what they can to provide poor but deserving children with opportunities to rise above their beginnings to become morally upright and productive citizens of the world.
The testimonies of beneficiaries and scholars of Share A Child are proof that thirty five years ago today, Share a Child was the meaningful and needed response to the needs of so many children in Cebu. That we have changed the lives of thousands of children who have now become upright citizens of the world is a feather in the cap of our founders, and an inspiration for us to keep on doing the work that they began.
When I took over the Share a Child’s leadership three years ago, we were overcome with grief at the passing of Lola Sising, and shortly thereafter, Auntie Nina. It was a loss that struck us at the very core of our being as an organization and which we continue to mourn today. But there is a saying that pain refines the soul, and if we allow it to, it can make us stronger.
In a month’s time, we will be closing our ComBat project with CARITAS Switzerland. Last Saturday, we visited the Community Based Child Protection Network (CBCPN) of San Roque in Talisay, and proudly heard the glowing reports of mothers, private citizens and barangay officials on how our interventions have changed the social landscape of their communities. Where before there was fear and apathy, there is now vigilant awareness of the rights of children and communities working together to promote and defend it against predatory activity.
We visited the livelihood project in Sitio Panaghiusa, and heard about the neighbourhood group that produces detergents for the use of the local communities and provides retail services in procuring rice for the consumption of the neighbourhood. With our nudging and support, our partners are going in the right direction here, providing services that will strengthen the bonds among neighbourhood groups and local communities, as well as supplementing the incomes of their members, even as we empower them with the capacity to participate in policy making of local government units.
On a shoestring budget, we accomplished our part in the Child Protect project and in fighting against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), a project funded by Terre des Homes. Community-based Child Protection Networks (CBCPNs) now initiate meaningful projects in their own barangays such as hair-cutting activities, advocacy and lobbying with their respecive local government units.
After almost twenty years, the Sugbuanong Pundok Aron Supuon ang Child Abuse (SUPACA) is going stronger than ever. Organized in 1997, it earned an award as one the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) of the Philippines in 2004. Today, we have a presence not only in the schools of Cebu and neighboring cities, but also in the communities that we are serving. We have infused training and capacity building into the new leadership, and the members have been active with advocacy activities in their respective schools and communities. They say that the youth is the promise of the motherland. The SUPACA will be at the forefront of making things happen to make this land a kinder, gentler place for the next generation.
We have been through many daunting challenges in the last three years that threatened to wipe us out. But we have managed to survive, and with strong determination, we will persevere and strive to grow stronger.
The current social environment show that the Share a Child has many more things that need to be done. The dangers of cyber sex and cyber pornography continues, and will thrive as long as poverty drives families to reduce children to commodities. We have to rise to the challenge of protecting the children in our communities against the menace of drug addiction and the war of extermination being waged by the current administration. We have to rise to the challenge of encapacitating the youth to participate in planning and policy making to reduce the impact of climate change.
As we face these challenges, Share a Child itself rises to the challenge of transforming itself to a self-sustaining institution, a valuable resource in the fight to protect and promote the rights of children in Cebu. We have painstakingly reviewed our strategic plans and policy manual, and plan to institute governance improvements in the days to come. We will strengthen the Board of Trustees by providing for representation of the SUPACA and the Community Based Child Protection Networks, as well as other sectors such as academe, the corporate sector, and civil society.
And so, even as we face the uncertainties of the future, we remain undaunted, because we are fully assured that we are doing the right thing, and we rely first and foremost on the Providence of a loving Father in heaven, the prayers of our founder and first Executive Director who continue to smile on us from above, and the generous support of our benefactors and partners in this imperfect world of ours.
Allow me to acknowledge the leadership of Dr. Fe Necessario, who despite her advanced age, has stepped in to fill the gap left by Lola Sising. At the helm of the Board of Trustees, she has steered us through difficult hurdles. Thank you also to Marlon Mendoza, who as Board Secretary, representing the alumni has so generously, contributed his time and resources to Share a Child. To my uncle, Francisco Valenzona for his deep insights and humor that often broke the ennui at board meetings. And to the other Board members, Maricel Madamba, and SPO3 Egmedio Felisan Jr. for their service.
I wish to acknowledge the support of the staff that has persevered with us through this most trying of times. Thank you all and we wish you a prosperous and productive year in 2017. My God bless us all!
