My September Round-Up with Girls Got This

A total of 18 mentorship sessions were done since Girls Got This Works started last April. At least four barangays partnered with us and have been supporting us by encouraging girls to participate the weekly session. 

Looking back, I couldn't imagine that for the past months we have somewhat influenced these young girls to be empowered and to continue taking steps in achieving their goals and dreams. Perhaps, the greatest fulfillment I have at the moment is to see these girls slowly believing in themselves and persevering what they promised to commit at the first day of the session. 

From 7 to 27

We started with barely 7 participants in a certain barangay in Mandaue. Although there were moments I couldn't understand what kept these girls from attending the session, our organization continued supporting the participating girls. Through words of the mouth, our barely 10 participants surprisingly increased to a total of 27 girls who are actively attending the session every week. In fact, they verbalized how they learned so much of themselves and their communities.

This is also true to other partner barangays. Instead of the usual GAD Focal in the barangay doing the follow-up, the girls took the initiative to remind their co-participants to continue attending the session. I am amazed how they owned such responsibilities and leadership to organize the weekly mentorship session. 

I am a New Sister

A new participant who attend the session twice suddenly sat beside me and randomly told me, "Ate, naa kay manghud?"

"Uu. Lalaki akong manghud," I answered casually. 

"Ate. Pwede ikaw nalang akong ate?" it was an emotional appeal when I heard her voice. 

"Syempre. Ate naman ko ninyo sukad nagkaila ta," I replied. 

"Ate. Ako ra man gud usa babaye. Tapos nangandoy ko naa koy ate. Pito mi kabuok mag-igsuon. Puros man lalaki akong igsuon. Mao nangandoy ko naa koy ate. Para mostorya nako," she continued. 

My heart crashed actually, and what struck me the most was her story at home. A cliche story of domestic violence, unemployed parents, and living in a slum area. She didn't have anybody to look up to as a leader or as a model. 

I had a deep talk with her before starting our session because after finding out her living condition, I suddenly felt guilty, and angry at these circumstances these children have to face. 

The 4 Major Rights of the Child

It so happened on that day that the topic was all about Children's Rights. 

"Unsa ang inyong pasabot sa katungod," I asked. 

"Kanang naay katungod moskwela, Ate," one girl answered. 

"Kanang among katungod makakaon," another one said, and it was followed by other girls who shared about what their rights are and other examples. 

Then I presented the 4 Major Rights of the Child. They were all shocked and some others were puzzled the number of rights they have.

"Ate, ngano gibuhat mani ang mga katungod," the girl in front of me asked.

Indeed, it was a curious and innocent question which I willingly answered - explaining how these rights protect them from being exploited, and abused. Besides, these rights are human rights which are universal, alienable, indivisible and interdependent. These rights are governed by the 4 basic principles.

The Most Important Right

Before we ended the session, I asked each girl a question for them to ponder, "What is the most important right for you?"

Given an ample of 5 minutes to think, each girl wrote down their answers. Some answered education, while others answered social security. There were answers about their right to parental care and support. 

As we reached to processing their answers, I could only listen to their thoughts how they wanted to have a family who would protect them and provide them; how they wanted to finish school and be successful with their chosen profession. They also wanted to have a government free from corruption. Additionally, they wanted a government who would take responsibility of the country and to the people. 

The session ended with sharing of ideas, probing in my part, and acknowledging how lucky they are to be alive. On that day, I was more than fulfilled. I was blessed to have shared these important lesson they seldom learn from school. 

Addendum:

The FOUR Basic Principles:

1. Survival, Development, Participation, and Protection

2. Devotion to the Best Interest of the Child

3. Equality and Non-Discrimination

4. Respect for the Views of the Child

The Four Major Rights

1. Survival Rights (right to life; right to adequate standard of living; right to health; right to parental care and support; right to social security)

2. Protection Rights (right to name, nationality, and identity; protection against child abuse and maltreatment; protection against sexual abuse and exploitation; protection against dangerous drugs; protection against child abduction, sale, traffic, and illicit transfer; protection of children of indigenous origin; protection in emergency situations; protection of children in especially difficult circumstances; protection for disabled children)

3. Development Rights (right to information; right to education; right to leisure and recreation)

4. Participation Rights (right to express his/her opinion; freedom of expression; freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; freedom of association, and the right to privacy). 

P.S.: Earlier after my session in Cebu City, I was told that one of my girls got "married". I had to clarify the statement and asked how old was she. I was shocked that she was just 13 years old married to a guy much older than her. I was already probing that I found out that her parents consented it because of their financial struggle. I couldn't take it thus filed a report. 

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