I am encouraged by the sharing of others; that while they have been in the service for so many years already, the training still taught them a lot…

A new task, a new adventure, but more challenging than being a school admin for 15 years. Managing Basic Education and running the Sto. Niño Home, Inc. with 40 abandoned, neglected, surrendered, and abused children is totally different.  I have to accept my limitations. There were so many things I needed to know to appropriately carry out this new task, from handling day to day operations, to proper case management and dealing with the staff and the total care and welfare of the children.

It was timely and an answer to a need, that NORFIL Foundation Inc., in partnership with Adoptionscentrum of Sweden invited me to participate in a two-series seminar workshop on child Protection Strategies for NGO/LGU Social Workers and BCPC Representatives and Child Protection Policy for Agency Heads and Supervisors.

The training was very comprehensive. The resource persons were competent and experts in their own topics. The flow was smooth; content and materials provided were relevant to what we need and the soft copies of the presentations allow us to have a feedback to the staff and replicate what was provided to us.

It is also an easy reference particularly to participants like me who had no basic training or orientation in this sector. The input has brought a sufficient level of awareness and knowledge, and consequently the ability and confidence to carry out expectations of our respective roles in this child welfare setting.

I am encouraged by the sharing of others; that while they have been in the service for so many years already, the training still taught them a lot, that while they thought they have everything in place to keep children safe, they still need to address a lot of concerns, to be up to standards. It also provided us a network and linkage, and opportunities for future partnerships.  It opened up avenues for us.

The training provided direction on legal and operational aspect in running the center as well as specifics to ensure proper care and protection for children served. We are working on that. It made me change and improve management styles and strategies as well as enhanced policies to ensure proper implementation and guidance. There are noted improvements in our caring for children. We are more aware of their rights and working at fulfilling it in all areas of our operation. On top of it all I want to ensure that on my watch and in the future, we can confidently say we did our best to keep children safe from harm.Thank you NORFIL Foundation, Inc. and Adoptionscentrum Sweden for these training, for capacitating us for the best interest of the children we serve. We commit to a more vigorous effort to fulfill and advocate for their rights.