Close partner of DSWD for child rights, 2

BY FR. SHAY CULLEN

PREDA WAS founded in 1974 helping boys in conflict with the law and it continues in two other homes.. The girls home opened in 1996 and today, 27 years later around 2,000 children have been saved, healed and reintegrated, some still receiving financial support as part of a Preda aftercare educational assistance.

At present, there are 83 female children in the Victoria Children’s Home from six years old to 18, all in in residence and all victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse. The building is an octagon with a big spacious center hall surrounded by glass-walled transparent offices, a library, counselling room and medical room and public toilets.

A stairway leads to five spacious dormitories, a therapy room, and a TV room on the second floor. Here, too, will be a simulated court room where mock trials will familiarize the young children with a courtroom setting so she can give her testimony truthfully, clearly, without intimidation and fear and emotional breakdown.

School time was over and lunch was done. The children had siesta and then returned to the main hall for group activities around 2 p.m. Karate and dance instructors arrived and were allowed inside the gate. A group of girls started practicing karate for self-defense.

Others were following the moves of the dance instructor, music blared. The small child victims /survivors were playing happily in the large indoor playground. Others were in the library reading books, playing chess or playing with toys.

Outside, girls were playing volleyball or others having fun on a swing. The two babies, a few months old, born at Preda to two 14-year old children were being cuddled by two girls. They are children having children tragically fathered by their own fathers.

In the medical room, Doctora Santa Laureola was examining a child while other children waited their turn outside. On the second floor in the TV room girls were practicing a theatre play. They will travel to Germany in August and September 2023 to perform a child rights advocacy drama.

The karate and dancing was over and a big group game of tag started in the main hall. Screams of laughter and surprises erupted as the girls chased each other around a circle of participants. Despite the tragedy they suffered in their young lives, it was wonderful to see these once traumatized and fearful children now happy, free and enjoying a childhood regained.

The Preda professional staff were present supervising the fun and games. Later, the daily life testimony, Gospel reading and evening meal will follow. The children will then watch a video selected for them by the staff.

The success of the Preda Victoria Children’s Home is the outcome of the meaningful and varied daily program of therapeutic learning and inspirational activities. The program is implemented by close coordination and team work between the foundation’s president, Francis Bermido Jr., and Executive Director Emmanuel Drewery and staff who are registered social workers, professional therapists, facilitators and teachers.

The team members work closely and are connected by mobile phone, Messenger and Whatsapp, constantly sending on-the -spot reports that flow constantly to and from the team members.

Every event and incident is reported and commented upon, advice is asked and given and action is taken. Then the several meetings during the week between staff and the Executive Committee keeps the program going on course.

When they visit the home, they supervise and manage the activities, inspect the center, and monitor the progress and problems of each child individually with the child’s assigned social worker present and give the children their personal attention. They listen to the children for any complaints and unattended needs like if they had phone calls to their supporting parents.

With social workers present, they help the new arrivals, one by one, to tell their story of abuse and encourage them to write it down in their own hand. This will be the basis of the affidavit of complaint against their abuser.

There are many more activities going on that can’t fit into this article and I will tell you in another article. Report any abuse to Preda Foundation in confidence to +63 9175324453. (preda.org)