ADRA Philippines, with the support of Aktion Deutschland Hilft and in partnership with Department of Education (DepEd), trained selected students from Barotac Viejo National High School (BVNHS), Raul V. Causing Memorial Elementary School (RVCES), Barotac Viejo DepEd District Office, Alejo Posados Memorial Elementary School (APMES), Ajuy National High School (ANHS), and Culasi Elementary School (CES) prepare for disasters through two Batang Ready Summer Camps.
The first Camp was held April 24-26 at Alejo Posadas Elementary School, Ajuy, Iloilo which was attended by 75 children. The 2nd one, also attended by 75 students, was held on May 16-18, 2018 held in Raul V. Causing Memorial Elementary School in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. These 150 students (30 students per school) were chosen through an audition process that was held in the schools during the month of February.
The Batang Empowered Resilient Team (BERT) Module was used by ADRA to facilitate the learning. This included teaching the kids, in an inclusive way, about how to Learn, Survive, and Protect themselves during times of disaster.
It was during the 2nd Camp that gave some of the students that attended the 1st Camp, the ability to share what they had learned to those who were attending for the first time. Under the supervision of some ADRA and Humanity and Inclusion (HI) personnel, these students got a first hand experience on what it will feel like to share what they have learned with their peers about disaster preparedness during the first day.
During 2nd day, the students then learned about Psychological Support from Rodulf John Dela Cruz from Iloilo Children’s Welfare Foundation. That night, the kids were given a chance to play and get to know more of their fellow students through games that were led by the University of San Agustin Little Theater. This social night served as a preliminary to the theater workshop that would also be led by the same group during the 3rd and last day.
Students and faculty members including the principal were grateful to have the chance to be chosen as beneficiaries of ADRA Philippines.
According to one of the students of Barotac Viejo National High School, Jinkie Pedroño, “It was great and awesome. Dahil po parang nafefeel ko na ang privilege is naibigay sa akin. Kaya ang sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na lahat ng input na mage-gain ko sa mga teachers ko, dahil dapat marerelay ko ito. Ang mga estudyante na sumali dito, kumbaga nagtratrust na masasabi ko sa kanila kung ano dapat gawin pagdating ng sakuna.” (trans: It was great and awesome because you will really feel that attending this camp is a privilege. That is why I tell myself that whatever input I gain from my teachers, I should be able relay the message. The students who joined this camping were entrusted to relay this information on what to do during times of disaster).
From the Statement of Raul O.B. Causing Memorial Elementary School Principal Ma. Luz Baldove
“Pag meron kaming drill, merong nilelecture ang mga teacher kung ano dapat gawin pag meron ng earthquake o sunog. May mga drills na sinusunod ang mga bata…pinatutunog namin ang alarm para lahat ng mga bata ay lumalabas na. Makikita nyo may mga arrow arrow kung sila dapat dumaan . Kaso lang wala kaming masyado facilities at gamit na dapat sa ganyang drill. So it’s good para sa mga bata namin na turuan sila sa ADRA, kasi pag sa ADRA mas intensive na ginagawa ninyo samanlatang samin sa drill naming hindi talaga. Ang mga bata kahit nagdridrill yan may mga tumatawa parang hindi seryoso, siguro sa training na ito, dito nila makikita ang intensive training sa kanila hindi laro laro, na sila mismo na nandyan .” (trans: Whenever we have our drills, our teachers give lectures about what to do in case of earthquake or fire. There are drills that kids follow… we turn on the alarm system so that all the kids would go out. You could see the arrows that point to the direction that students should go. However, here in our school we lack the proper facilities and equipments needed for the drills. It’s good that the kids are being taught by ADRA because ADRA teaches disaster preparedness intensively. It’s not the same with us, where sometimes the kids do not take it seriously. Maybe through this training, they would see for themselves that it is not a game.)
She also gave thanks to the donors of the program and ADRA.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the donor . We are enjoying what you are giving to us now. Marami kayong naibigay sa amin. We are very thankful talaga. Sabi ko nga kay Sir James (ADRA Batang Ready -Project Officer) very thankful kami na maging beneficiaries ng program nyo kasi masyado itong important sa amin. It’s very important na ang mga bata namin , they learn yung ang ano ba ang risk at kung paano nila gagamitin sa actual life nila hindi lang para sa regular students but also sa students with disabilities. (trans: I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the donors. We are enjoying what you are giving to us. You have given us a lot of things and we are very thankful. I even told Sir James (ADRA Batang Ready -Project Officer) that we are very thankful to be selected as one the beneficiaries of the program because this is very important to us. It’s very important that our students learn about the risk and how they can use it in real life, not just for the regular students but also for students with disabilities.
She added, “Very happy kami na itong program, inacknowledge nila ang people naming with disabilities. Being part of the program, being part of the training raised their self-esteem. Sasabihin nila na, ‘I am included in the community one of the people na talagang importante sila sa ating community, na isa rin sila na parte ng community’ . So I am very very thankful to all the donors . Thank you very much for selecting us to be one of your beneficiaries in this your program and I am hoping that what you have given us, what knowledge you have imparted to us will be shared also by the children by the pupils by their fellow pupils in these school.” (trans: We are very happy that this program, acknowledged our people with disabilities. Being part of the program, being part of the training raised their self-esteem. They would say,‘I am included in the community, I am an important to the community, and I am an part of the community. So I am very thankful for all the donors. Thank you very much for selecting us to be one of your beneficiaries in this program and I am hoping that what you have given us, what knowledge that you have imparted to us will be shared by the children, by the pupils , by their fellow classmates in these school.)
Ms. Jhaziel Bermejo, ADRA Batang Ready – Disaster Risk Reduction Officer, also gave her wishes for the students that : “I want them to take the values that ADRA is advocating and that is love,mercy and justice. I also want na hindi nila ikahiyang i-share yung knowledge sa ibang bata. I believe in them. I know they can do it na mai share na bukod sa natutunan nila dito ay ang mga values na nakuha nila sa mga trainings na binigay natin.” (trans: I want them to take the values that ADRA is advocating and that is love, mercy and justice. I also want them to not be embarrassed in sharing the knowledge they gained to other children. I know I believe in so much in them and I know they can do it, they can share, not just what they learned here but the values that they learned during the trainings we gave them.