Many former Bahay Pag-asa residents have improved their lives and have become professionals.
Bahay Pag-asa Center Manager Nenita Lim told Madayaw on August 20, 2024, that based on their knowledge, eight former residents of the center have graduated from college.
“Sa professionals sa amoang nahibal-an naa na sa eight kabuok [in the fields of] Social Work, Architecture, Criminology, Human Resource Management, Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, and Business Administration,” Lim said.
Bahay Pag-asa, one of the resident care facilities of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, also known as Children’s Village in Bago Oshiro celebrated its 16th Foundation Anniversary on August 14, 2024.
“Daghan pud nga mga bata gikan sa Bahay Pag-asa nga milambo ang kinabuhi nahimong successful sa ilang pagtuon ug ang uban nakatrabaho napud (Many children from Bahay Pag-asa have improved their lives and became successful in their studies and others were also able to find jobs),” she said.
Lim said that on their anniversary they have invited a former CICL, who is now a BS Social Work graduate and is bound to take the board exam, to give a testimony.
“Naghatag siya testimony nga maghatag og challenge pud sa mga kabataan nga naa sa sulod karon nga manigkamot pud sila sa ilang kinabuhi nga mabag-o nga para sa maayong kaugmaon ([Our guest] gave a testimony that would pose a challenge to those who are currently at the center to do their best because their lives can still have better future),” Lim said.
While inside the center, students are allowed to enroll and continue their studies. For the year 2020-2024, 20 residents of Bahay Pag-asa
graduated from elementary and 40 others graduated from High School.
During the anniversary celebration last August 14, the center gave certificates of commendation to current residents who have shown good performance while inside the center. Currently, the center houses 89 CICL.
The services offered for these CICL while inside the center are education, training for positive life skills, a character-building program, self-enhancement activities, and sports activities.
The residents are also involved in income-generating projects for their benefit.
“Our aim is to equip them so that they will be ready once they reintegrate into the community,” Lim said, adding that they are doing much for the residents to be productive in their communities.
For reintegration in the community, Bahay Pag-asa partners with the district social workers and barangay council for the protection of children for the aftercare services program.
CSWDO also continues to conduct monitoring and evaluation of their performance.
Meanwhile, Lim urged and encouraged the public, especially the parents to properly take good care of their children, to give them quality time and provide their basic needs, and to strengthen parental care and supervision to avoid children from getting involved in illegal activities.
“Panghingusgan gyud sa pamilya, sa ginikanan nga mahatagan sila ug igo nga parental guidance (The family, parents should strengthen parental guidance),” she said. CIO
