SOS Social Centres in Philippines

In the Philippines there are currently 11 Social Centres for children and the local community, examples of which are Iloilo and Davao.  Many SOS Social Centres operate via Family Strengthening Programmes, which aim to support the wider community.  Below is some information about some of the Social Centres that SOS Children runs in the Philippines:

SOS Social Centres around the Philippines: In-Depth

Iloilo

Description of SOS Social Centre/FSP:

The Social Centre includes a day-care centre and a room for medical treatment. Children of working mothers are taken care of and essential medical care is provided to the local community. In 2007, SOS Children's Villages launched its family strengthening programmes in Iloilo. These programmes are intended to support families at risk of abandoning their children and to encourage families to stay together. SOS Children's Villages therefore works with local authorities and other service providers to support families and enable them to take good care of their children. Family strengthening programmes provide nutritional, educational and health support as well as vocational training, career counselling sessions and job placement support. Families are linked with existing self-help groups; if there is no group, a new one is formed. The programmes also aim at raising awareness of hygiene and child rights and improving people's parenting skills.

Work and Achievements:

There are 1,100 beneficiaries of the FSP of SOS Iloilo. Programs are engaged in education, health, feeding and some skills training. Sessions on parenting and some dialogues were usual interaction between the FSP beneficiaries, SOS and some organizations. Regular meetings every month were also observed, this is the time where they do some assessment on the beneficiaries.

The community also joined in the preparation of the ‘Light a House’ event, this is a yearly Celebration of the Children’s Village with friends and donors. They also had their Christmas Party wherein six barangay joined the party.

Davao

Description of SOS Social Centre/FSP:

SOS Children's Villages operates an SOS Social Centre, which includes a day-care centre and a room for medical treatment. Children of working mothers are taken care of and essential medical care is provided to the local community. There are four classrooms and some training workshops where basic skills are taught.

Work and achievements:

A total of seven hundred thirty four (734) children enjoy the Family Strengthening Program. Aside from that two hundred fifty five (255) are enrolled in the Nursery of the Social Centre. Some of the children in the nursery are also children from the FSP. Different activities and celebration were participated both from the FSP and the Social Centre beneficiaries. 

One of the highlighted celebrations was the Nutrition Month in July, our SOS Davao Nursery School showcased the children’s talent in dancing during the culmination celebration.  The children actively participated in the parlor games. For the mothers of the preschoolers, the acquaintance party was also done on that day.  There was an induction of homeroom officers and the presentation of their talent in cooking especially in menu making and table setting arrangement.

Lipa

Work and Achievements:

Our current FSP child-beneficiaries number 379, belonging to 55 families. The Mother’s Club that has been organized the previous year became involve with their learned sewing skills by accepting jobs from our regular partners and advocates. Mother’s Club busied themselves with their new livelihood project - making & selling of tomato candies.  Others organized to help in maintaining and cleaning the classrooms everyday as well as helping in cleaning up the Village courtyard and garden.  A session on “Child’s Rights” facilitated by Ms. Lorelyn Liz, Village Social Worker as well as “Parenting Session facilitated by Ms. Rosalinda dela Pena. Lantern-Making Contest out of recycled materials was one of the FSP’s last projects of the year.  It was judged by invited guests and awarding was done during the combined Village and Christmas Party that was held last December 20.

Calbayog

Description of SOS Social Centre/FSP:

The SOS Social Centre Calbayog helps orphaned and vulnerable children and their families in the local community. It supports over 250 local families with a day care centre. Children are given medical checks, parents are given advice on nutrition and prevention of disease and skills training.