PREDA - Offers a safe home to ninety children

Students at the PREDA Youth home enjoying a meal watched on by the caring eye of their teacher - Photo: Fr Shay Cullen

For 50 years, the Preda Foundation in the Philippines has rescued, protected, healed and empowered abused and trafficked girls, saved innocent boys from unjust incarceration in jails, and given children a new life through therapy and education at residential care services.

There are now 65 girls aged 6 to 17 years protected and safe in the home for girls. They are all recovering and healing from the abuse they have suffered. As victims of sexual abuse by parents, relatives and paedophiles, and some by human traffickers, it is not easy for them. But with the help of Emotional Release Therapy where they can shout, cry and release the hurt and pain, they become healed, strong and self-confident.

At Preda, they can continue their studies and have a full life until safe and secure reintegration. They receive financial assistance from Preda to continue going to school when they are reintegrated.

There are at present 54 children in the Preda aftercare program receiving financial assistance and aftercare from a social worker. Once emotionally strong, these children bravely testify in court against their abusers and traffickers - the average is 20 to 21 court victories a year.

Already in 2024, they have won eight convictions, and their abusers have received long prison sentences. These abusers will not abuse any more children ever. As a result, the child has closure, is empowered for the rest of her life and will never be abused again.

There are 25 boys in the boys’ home in Nagbayan Castillejos, and they too are having therapy so they can heal and continue their schooling.

Preda conducts frequent prevention education seminars for duty bearers, teachers, students and parents on child rights, human dignity, and the law requiring all to report abuse.

Over the past three months, at seminars in schools and community halls in Zambales across 15 communities, the recovered victims of abuse have given presentations on their experience as child victims of sexual abuse and trafficking and their success in winning convictions. The aim is to increase reporting of abuse and reduce the abuse of children from Subic to Santa Cruz, Zambales.

Preda Youth home in Liloan, Cebu

As of April 2024, there were 28 boys in Preda Cebu: 25 children in conflict with the law (CICL) and 3 children at risk (CAR).

Of the 28 boys, 19 were rescued from youth prison by Operation Second Chance, and 9 from police detention facilities. They suffered human rights abuses, were beaten, bullied and some sexually abused by other inmates. Some were rescued from police holding cells or the Department of Social Welfare and Development (MSWD). These children were accused of committing offences in the community and they were referred to Preda by the courts or partner local government units. This referral process prevented the traumatic jail experience of these children.

Rescue and admissions

Two boys were rescued by the project and admitted to Preda Cebu. There were also referrals of boys, supposedly for admission but the referring agency changed their mind and facilitated community-based diversion for the said minor. Furthermore, the local social welfare offices indicated below have pending referrals to the Preda Cebu Boys Home. We are doing gradual admissions of children as admitting big groups of boys may disrupt the existing program.

We are prioritising (for admission) boys who may be sent to the youth prison for their serious violations, those with failed community diversion programs, and those boys who have court orders. Diversion is a process whereby a child accused of a petty crime does not need to undergo formal court proceedings, which are not child-friendly and usually take a very long time to complete. Other Family Courts and the MSWD are also inquiring about possible referrals.

Reintegration

Three boys were reintegrated after successfully completing the rehabilitation program: Ajay is 16 years old. After staying in the centre for one year he was released to his maternal aunt. Jhon is 16 years old. After staying in the centre for 11 months he was released to his mother. Gerald is 17 years old. After staying in the centre for eight months he was released to his paternal grandparents.

All these boys are now being considered to receive an aftercare program once they have settled into their respective homes and communities. One boy was transferred to the Department of Health Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Candabong, Argao, Cebu, as per the court order. He stayed in our centre for one year and six months.

Students at the PREDA Youth home are all smiles enjoying some delicious mango fruit. - Photo: Fr Shay Cullen

Education

The formal school students and Alternative Learning System (ALS) students continue attending their ALS and Modular Classes. There were 17 boys enrolled in ALS. 11 of these boys are in ALS Elementary and 8 are in ALS Junior High School.

Furthermore, five boys are doing Formal Schooling (modular mode). Two of these boys are in Senior High School and three boys are in Junior High School. Unfortunately, we have six boys who were not able to continue in ALS or formal schooling and attend regular classes because they were already late and unqualified.

The scheduled activities on education, values formation, therapy, arts, music, and sports were all implemented. Life skills and values formation were also consistently conducted at least twice a week.

Home visitations

Home visitations are conducted to allow the children to maintain contact with their families. These short visits make the children feel at ease and reduce the chances of them running away due to homesickness. As part of the case management, these home visitations also provide an opportunity for the social workers to check the life conditions of the children before the boys come to Preda so they can better understand them.

Organic garden

At the home for boys, there is a vegetable organic garden. The children and staff continue to maintain and grow the edible garden. The new seedlings (eggplant, pechay, tomato, chilli, squash) have been planted and are now growing. The staff and the boys have already harvested eggplants, malunggay, kangkong, and papaya, and banana trees are also maturing.

Staffing

In total, there are five full-time facilitators, one aftercare worker, three social workers, one night-duty worker, and one cook. There is also an ongoing search for a project administrator for Preda Cebu to support the existing management staff. Aside from this, additional facilitators/house parents are needed for the anticipated increase in the number of boys.

Columban Fr Shay Cullen lives and works in the Philippines