THE Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth, a DSWD-run center for Children in Conflict with the Law here in Western Visayas, was able to facilitate the discharge of 25 CICL last year.

“These children now have their second chance in life. Their cases were already dismissed in court and they are now reintegrated in their families and for some, in their relatives,” said Regional Director Carmelo Nochete of DSWD.

Based on records of the RRCY, aside from the 25 CICL whose cases were discharged by the courts, 15 are currently on suspended sentence; two cases are on trial; six are on diversion program; three are under temporary custody of their relatives; and two are for discharge this first quarter.

According to Jun Tercena, Social Welfare Officer of RRCY, each of the resident who is housed in the center is being supervised in doing his daily household tasks, being taught on the importance of proper hygiene, proper table manners, and maintaining cleanliness of the center and its surroundings. Positive discipline is being practiced and instilled as well as the practice of industry and responsibility while all residents are following the structured activities.

They are given proper orientation by the Homelife Unit Staff on the rules and regulations of the center and provided with clothing, toiletries, and other personal items for their daily use.

“Group Sessions were conducted for the residents to learn about home management, the importance of good manners and right conduct, daily life skills, the importance of water conservation, and solid waste segregation especially that we have been experiencing climate change and global warming,” Tercena said.

All residents are being trained in following the daily structured activities so as to instill positive discipline and in building one’s good character.

The residents were trained on how to maintain cleanliness of their sleeping quarters including disinfection of the entire surroundings under the supervision of Houseparents. This is one way of preventing the spread of mosquitoes, fireflies, germs and even viruses.

On top of these, Spiritual Enrichment Activities such as the Bible Study and Values Re-Inculcation Sessions are regularly conducted every week by the RRCY Bayanihan Volunteers.

Also, a Vegetable Gardening Project is ongoing. “Residents take time to take care and cultivate their garden. Some vegetables like kangkong and alogbate were already harvested and consumed by the residents and the rest were sold to nearby residents where they earned income out of this project,” added Tercena.

TRAINING RRCY Head Haydee Canilla said that the center’s social workers facilitated the conduct of Character Building Session along topics on Self-Control vs. Indulgence, Tolerance vs. Prejudice, Availability vs. Self-Centeredness, Sincerity vs. Hypocrisy, Flexibility vs. Resistance, and Wisdom vs. Foolishness in year 2022.

According to Canilla, the residents are applying the character being constantly inculcated in their daily dealings with co-residents and staff at the center.

“In all our endeavors, we see our residents as children. Children are not criminals. The prison cells and detention homes are not the right places for them. With us seeing more of our clients who were discharged becoming teachers, seafarers, social workers, entrepreneurs and artists, we know that we are on the right track in giving CICL a fresh lease in life,” Canilla added./dswd6