Roel (not his real name), 17, should be in school but has been attending weekly sessions with social workers.

He is also working with his father doing painting jobs to help his family earn a living.

Slowly, he has been struggling to recover from a life-changing mistake.

Roel was detained in a prison facility for eight months last year, when he was 16 years old, after he was apprehended by authorities for raping a fellow minor.
The shy but serious boy was also involved in misdemeanors and was hooked on smoking, street gambling and on computer games.

But he also helped his family earn a living. The sixth of seven siblings, Roel worked from nine to 12 hours earning from P300 to P400 daily for painting jobs including on houses and vehicles.

He was in grade seven but was forced to quit when he was detained. He was later transferred to the Ahon Bata Center while undergoing rehabilitation under the City Social Welfare Office and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with the assistance of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Roel was placed under a rehabilitation program that seeks to provide opportunities for youth in conflict with the law to find meaning and have a second chance in life. This is anchored on the view that he was a victim of dire circumstances rather than as an offender.

Those placed under the program are provided new opportunities to rediscover themselves and be reintegrated into society, confident and still worthy of other people’s respect.
The DSWD’s program includes a series of psychosocial support, Bible study, psychological evaluation, and extending financial support for his personal needs through the assistance of UNICEF.

Under the program, Roel is finding and has found a second chance in life.

When he was at the Ahon Bata Center, he learned to take care of himself and has acted as a “Manong” (elder brother) to the other children in the center. He also got rid of his vices and has dropped “friends” who influenced him negatively.

Social workers also gave orientation session to his parents on crucial role, and how to become responsible parents. This is crucial because Roel has been temporarily turned over to their custody pending the resolution of the case.

Roel dreams of becoming a seafarer so he can earn enough to build a house for his parents in the city.

At a drawing activity session at Ahon Bata Center, he proudly showed his artwork with a drawing of a school and a cross.

“…Gusto ko na makabalik sa eskwela liwat, Ma’am, kag magpakabuot na ko kag magpangamuyo pirme (I want to go back to school, Ma’am, and I will behave properly now and always pray),” Roel said.

He plans to go back to school next year as a grade eighth student./dswd6/Romela Gianan