Thursday, December 14, 2017

CSOs holds healing sessions for IDPs in ECs to air voices

By Jun Enriquez

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.
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









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