Groups forge partnership to strengthen child welfare

CEBU, Philippines — The R.O.W. Initiative and the Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC) have forged a partnership to strengthen the social-emotional well-being and resilience of young children in disaster-affected communities in Talisay City.

The partnership was formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed recently for the Social-Emotional Learning for Early Childhood Resilience Program, which will support young children, early childhood care and education (ECCE) teachers, caregivers, and communities affected by disasters.

The pilot program will be implemented in selected barangays in coordination with the Talisay City Government.

R.O.W. Initiative founder Kimberley Therese Burden-Gothong said the partnership marks a milestone in the organization’s efforts to help disaster-affected communities recover not only physically but also emotionally.

R.O.W. was established in November 2025 in response to Typhoon Tino.

“In the aftermath of that disaster, we saw that recovery was not only about rebuilding what was damaged. It was also about restoring stability, dignity, and hope in the lives of families and communities,” Burden-Gothong said.

She said she established R.O.W. in honor of the legacy of her mother, Dr. Rowena Burden, whose life was anchored on compassionate, practical, and community-based service.

Burden-Gothong also underscored the role of volunteers in disaster recovery and resilience-building, saying they can become community builders when organized, supported, and connected with strong partners.

Talisay City Mayor Samsam Gullas, meanwhile, said that partnerships are crucial in delivering better services to communities.

“As a mayor, I think the best thing that you have to do when you start a project, a program, or a service is to realize and accept that you will never be a monopoly of knowledge,” Gullas said.

Talisay City has since partnered with various non-government organizations and agencies to address gaps in services, including initiatives involving health services, care for senior citizens, and assistance for abandoned children.

“We partnered with different NGOs. We have organizations that we provide financial assistance to every year,” Gullas said, citing partnerships with organizations that help provide services for the elderly and abandoned children whom the city cannot accommodate in its own facilities.

The mayor said the same approach applies to the social-emotional needs of children, particularly those living in communities affected by Typhoon Tino.

Gullas recognizes that limitations allow the city government to identify gaps in its services and find partners capable of addressing them.

“At the end of the day, if we tell ourselves that we can do everything alone, we are not really serving our people. We are only serving ourselves,” she said.

Under the partnership, ARNEC will bring its regional experience in advancing early childhood development across the Asia-Pacific, while R.O.W. Initiative will work with the network to strengthen social-emotional learning and resilience among young children.

The pilot program recognizes the critical role of ECCE teachers in helping children recover after disasters.

Teachers will be equipped with practical tools and approaches to help restore routines for children following disasters, while parents, caregivers, and communities will also be supported in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

ARNEC is a regional network established in 2008 that works to advance early childhood development across the Asia-Pacific region.

Its work brings together governments, civil society organizations, foundations, academic institutions, development partners, and early childhood practitioners to promote holistic and inclusive early childhood development.

Among ARNEC’s advocacy priorities are responsive caregiving and parenting, as well as the creation of clean, safe, and secure environments for young children.

Burden-Gothong said the partnership with ARNEC and the Talisay City Government demonstrates how regional expertise, local leadership, and volunteer action can come together to strengthen community resilience.

She said the signing of the MoU should go beyond a formal agreement and translate into concrete action for children and families affected by disasters.

“Let us work together to ensure that children in disaster-affected communities are not only protected, but emotionally supported. Let us strengthen the adults, systems, and communities around them,” she said.

Gullas echoed the importance of working together, saying partnerships help fill gaps that local governments cannot address on their own.

The partners expressed hope that the Talisay City pilot would serve as a starting point for meaningful and sustained collaboration to help children, families, and communities become more prepared and resilient in the face of future disasters. — (FREEMAN)