By Jun Enriquez
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| IDPs participants on Healing session at Buru-un School of Fisheries Gym, Buru-un, Iligan City |
Iligan
City – For two months from middle of September to November this year, at least
400 women and 600 children who are internally displaced persons (IDPs) in eight
evacuation centers (ECs) this city participated in the healing sessions to
overcome ill feelings brought about by the Marawi crisis since it burst out in
May this year. The Healing session
project was conducted by the Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace, Inc. in
cooperation with the Samdhana Institute. The healing session is one of the
Psychosocial activities to help the victims on any crisis to relax their hearts
and minds from problems they encountered.
There were at
least 350,000 IDPs from Marawi City scattered nationwide to evade from the
crisis. In Iligan City, it was estimated to have 100,000 IDPs seek temporary relief
in the ECs and staying at home with relatives and others have rented homes.
Anita
Sescon, Commissioner on the Mindanao Commission on Women (MCW), Trainer of the volunteers
on healing process, said that the women especially the mothers should have
strong relations with their children because they are much closer than their
husbands in the family. She said if the mother mismanage emotionally it will
affect the whole thing in the family and future of the children. That’s why
healing session is very important for
the women and children to bring back their emotions normalized, Sescon said.
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| Children seeing a movie |
During
the holding of the sessions, it founds out the prevailing issues and concerns
not only for the women but for the whole family that affects their lives while
they are living in the evacuation centers. They feared most about the future of
their children. Other issues and concerns they shared are food security,
education for children, shelter, livelihood, employment opportunity, capital
for business, safety and security, financial assistance, health, among others.
Children’s
issues and concerns are mostly on their education. The children were very
excited during the sessions. They will be shown with a movie to make them aware
on what was happening on their surroundings. The children expressed their
feelings that the movies they saw made them happy, enjoyable, educational,
understanding on good attitude. During the dialogue with the children after the
movie shows, they shared the lessons Learned they got from the movies. They enjoyed
the movie, helps understood the love of the family, awareness on environmental
protection, strong determination, courage and discipline to win peaceful
community.
The
Technical Education and Skills development Authority (TESDA) conducted skills
and livelihood trainings mostly for the women. feedback from participants said they cannot move to engage
on business because they have no capital.
Jane Bernardo,
President of the CSO-FP, said that issues and concerns regarding capital for
business and other economic activities shall be referred to the concerned government
agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of
Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and development
(DSWD).
Most of
the IDPs aired their voices about their living condition as soon as they will go
back to Marawi City. Bernardo said that this concern will be tackled by the Task
Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace
process (OPPAP). Bernardo added that they will make appropriate recommendations
regarding the issues and concerns of the IDPs transpired from the healing
session.
Every after
the sessions conducted, the Balay Rehabilitation for Total Human Development
(BIRTHDEV), the lead organization as conveners of the Mindanao Emergency
Response Network for Lanao del Norte through Tina Lomoljo, Executive Director
and Lead convener respectively, gave toys to children and hygiene kits for the
women participated in the activity.
Bernardo
said she extended her thanks to their main project partner, the Samdhana
Institute who gave their all-out support for the success of the project. She also
extends her thanks to the volunteers, especially the Maranao women volunteers
who are also IDPs and students in Mindanao State University (MSU). Other
partners in the project are BIRTHDEV, Kapamagogopa, Inc. (KI), Ranao Bay-MERN
(Lanao del Norte), German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Mandala Core of Women,
MCW and Partido Manggagawa (PM). With reports, photos & videos by
Salve Gimena, Jac Macatimbol.
Video file: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FF_QzndYIU