For the first time ever, Child Rights Advocates (CRAs) from all over Negros Occidental assemble at the 1st Child Rights Advocates Summit.
A total of 73 CRAs attended the 1st Child Rights Advocates Summit last December 12, 2024 at Nature’s Village Resort, Talisay City.
With SIFI’s implementing programs from Northen Negros through the RSS Integrated ARBO Child Labor and PPE Program (IACAP) and the Child Labor Mitigation Program (CLMP) in Southern Negros, the CRAs were gathered to share best practices, foster camaraderie, and deepen motivation through the one-day fellowship.
IN PHOTO (L-R): SIFI Special Projects Technical Consultant Judy Ann Gonzaga, NVC Foundation CEO & President Millie Kilayko, and SIFI President & COO Edith Villanueva
Keynote Speaker Millie Kilayko, President & CEO of the NVC Foundation, Inc., expressed her appreciation to the CRAs, “The difficulty of running an advocacy without funding and seeking support from the less fortunate to inspire them and open their hearts requires great skill and the help of God. I am proud of all the CRA advocates who started in a small community and hopefully one day, you will become one of the biggest and most successful contributors to the community. Everything big starts in small.”
In line with SIFI’s advocacy in child labor mitigation and the summit’s theme “Sama-sama para sa batang malaya”, Kilayko emphasized that the children need the opportunity to be given education, care, and guidance in making the right decisions in life so that they will not go astray and can become successful in their lives.
The summit was joined by guests from DOLE-Negros Occidental Field Office represented by CLPEP Focal Person Zyrene Prietos, Leslie Abello from the University of St. La Salle, together with Perly Rivera and Reena Depalubos of Lopez MDDC, and Eduardo Deocadez of VMC MDDC.
The CRAs exhibited their stories and achievements in the Gallery Walk of Experience through printed materials and collages with an allotted time to socialize with each other.
With this, the ARBOs with the best IACAP and CLMP implementation were recognized in the program where they were given a plaque and cash prize. The following groups performed best protocol implementations:
- Mirasol Development Corporation Agrarian Reform Cooperative (MDCARC) – Sagay City
- Hacienda Bongco Agrarian Reform Cooperative (HABARC) – Escalante City
- Don Esteban Agrarian Reform Cooperative (DEARCO) – Escalante City
- De Fuego 2 Farmers and Farm Workers Association (DFFWA) – Silay City
- Sitio Tayap Upland Farmers and Farm Workers Association (STUFAWA) – Silay City
- San Antonio Farmers and Farm Workers Association (SAFFWA) – Manapla
- San Juan Torena Agrarian Reform Cooperative (San Juan Torena ARC) – Cadiz City
- Cusi Farmworkers and Farmers Association (CUFFA) – Pontevedra
A special dance performance was also presented by the RSS CRAs – the pioneer CRAs who have been with SIFI and have been spreading child labor mitigation awareness to the grass roots in the past 8 years.
Aside from this, the CRAs joined the Zumba Dance Contest wherein the Victorias Milling District group was hailed as champions. The prizes for the Zumba Dance Contest and the raffle were sponsored by Victorias MDDC, Hawaiian-Philippine Company, Lopez MDDC, SIFI Special Projects Technical Consultant Judy Ann Gonzaga, and SIFI President & COO Edith Villanueva.
The program was spearheaded by the hosts, Dailen Alipongga and Wilma Dignos, CRAs from Hacienda Cubcuban Farm Workers Association and Caridad 1 Agricultural Coop, respectively.
As the CRAs conclude 2024 with the same goal, a new motivation and drive to keep children in school and away from the working in the sugarcane fields.
