800 street children join summer camp

CEBU, Philippines - Eight hundred children under the umbrella of the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children were treated to fun-filled lessons and activities at the Matutinao Elementary School in Badian, southern Cebu.

The six-day camp, which started last Monday, is aimed at giving the children the opportunity to have happy childhood memories like any other children.

Most of them were victims of physical or sexual abuse, abandonment, trafficking and other traumatic experiences.

This is the 22nd summer camp organized by the task force.

Letting the children explore and develop their own skills will help them gain enough confidence that would eventually lead them to develop a strong bond with other children, says Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña.

The event had 30 facilitators, themselves former victims of abuse when they were streetchildren.

The facilitators, aged 14-18 years old, supervised the younger ones. They were the ones who planned and conducted the activities.

Redentor Betito, program coordinator, said they allow the children to do this so they would be able to develop their leadership skills.

The task force serves as their guardian and provides security for the children while in Badian.

Part of the summer camp is counseling which allows the children to talk about their traumatic experiences and find ways to overcome these.

Stephen Deno of the Community Scout Youth Guidance Center (CSYGC) and one of the facilitators said that being with children like them who are victims of abuse is easy. It is mingling and opening up with other “normal kids” that is difficult.

But with enough effort and encouragement from their facilitators, whom they consider their “Kuya” and “Ate,” will eventually let the younger children realize that it is alright to say anything they want and to do the things they enjoy doing.

Stephen said there’s a need to explain to the children the importance of cooperating and being involved with the group to realize their worth.

Romulo Velasquez, a social worker, told The FREEMAN that the children enjoyed the summer camp because it was conducted near the sea. They were also allowed to go to the famous Kawasan Falls in Badian.

The children played native games like “siatong”, “bato-lata”, and “takyan”.

They were also given discussion on safety such as in crossing the streets, reading traffic signs, and others that will help them in everyday living. (FREEMAN)