Category: Philippines

Project B.O.N.G. (Bringing Order to the Nemesis of Gangs) 2040 is a programme launched by the Iloilo City Police Office to address problems faced by youth gangs. The aim is to turn these gang members into good citizens.

Goducate has become a partner of Project B.O.N.G. Goducate addresses the physical and emotional needs of the gang members through regular basketball sessions, small-group counselling, and camps.

The first camp for the first batch of gangs was held on April 27-28 at Goducate Training Center (GTC) in Iloilo. It was attended by 53 gang members and 15 policemen. After a series of regular meetings, different gangs united to form a group called United Gangsters of Iloilo.  They elected officers to ensure continuity of the program.  The group hopes to see its members completely changed, to become productive members of society.

The second Project B.O.N.G. Youth Camp was held on July 15-16, again in GTC.  The theme of the camp was “Building the Youth for a Better Tomorrow”.  It was attended by 84 youths who make up the 4 major gangs in Iloilo City.  22 individuals from Iloilo City Police Office and from the Women and Children Protection Desk also attended the event.  Apart from games and small-group counselling, the campers attended lectures that were designed to address the issues that youths are facing—for example, drug addiction, peer relationships and pressures, and moral nourishment and growth.

PC Supt Cesar Hawthorne Binag, Regional Director of the Police Regional Office 6, graced the event and gave his inspirational message. He encouraged and connected with the youth by sharing his personal journey on achieving his dreams and career goals.

The elected officers of the United Gangsters of Iloilo took their oath during the camp.

The feedback from the campers was good, because they felt empowered.  The fellowship between gangs was restored because friendship between them was established.  The president of the United Gangsters of Iloilo said, “I support this camp because it’s a great help for us, especially to the minors.”

*Our guest writer is Joanna De Leon, a community development worker

 

Goducate Laguna launched a Health Information Drive for the community in February this year. We are helping the community by increasing their awareness of the threats and complications of diabetes, and hypertension and the benefits of Malunggay (Moringa olifera). Apart from free lectures on the topic, we also do weekly follow-up visits to check blood pressures and do some counselling.

From 2 community workers who were trained at the Goducate Training Center, Iloilo, Goducate Laguna now has 20 community leaders trained to give the lectures and to check blood pressure.

 

These community leaders are also part of the Goducate Scholarship program. They are now reaching their own villages to teach the community the value of health. We have been a partner to 5 barangays (villages) in Bay, Laguna, and hope to reach all 15 before the end of this year.

To live up to its motto of “helping others help themselves”, Goducate trains community leaders to become community trainers.

A Trainer’s Training for the School Leadership Program (SLP) and Health Information Drive (HID) was held in Sorsogon City on June 20-24.  Sorsogon City is the capital of the province of Sorsogon, in the Bicol Region, which is located at the southeastern stretch of Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines. 37 church leaders, both adults and youth, underwent the training.

The participants were taught how to help youths face issues on drug addiction and teenage pregnancy and how to tap on their leadership potential.  Moreover, they were also trained to conduct Health Information Drives focusing on topics of hypertension, diabetes, and benefits of Moringa olifera (Malunggay) for adults.  Proper hygiene for children was also included, to benefit children in villages.

The best part of the training was the practical work, when the participants, guided by Goducate Community Development Trainers, trained school leaders in 2 high schools in Sorsogon.  It was followed by health information drives in four barangays (villages).  The participants were also assisted in coming up with a strategic plan to bring help to the whole province of Sorsogon.

 

Goducate is expanding its help to more regions in the Philippines by partnering with various groups and training their leaders, so that the work gets multiplied.

*Our guest writer is Joanna De Leon, a community development worker