HELPING abused children, working on their recovery, coaching them to find their strengths and move on has always been the way of life for workers at the Home for Girls. But a US Peace Corps volunteer has taught them to love their job and at the same time love themselves.

Home, a center for young girl victims of abuse managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region VI,is the place of assignment of Tamorah Hawthorne of Arlington, Texas since September 2012 to September of this year. With the more than one year period, she has carved her place in the hearts of the staff and residents.

“I thought it was about time to also give attention to the workers who help the children. So I, along with social worker Roqueta Aquio, thought of implementing the “Building the Builders Project.” We wanted a project that would positively affect the lives of the residents (refers to girl residents of the center) and that is investing in the staff through staff development,” said Hawthorne.

She illustrated the importance of the project into a flowering plant in a pot. “It’s like the pot is the center, the soil is the staff and the flowers are the children. For the flowers to blossom beautifully, the soil must be rich,” she said.

 

Building the Builders

The project implementation began with the retreat conducted in September at Alobijod Cove Resort in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. The goal of the activity was to renew, energize and have a venue for bonding among the staff. Topics included personal assets, team building, vision, mission and goal design, self-care, positive and objective feedback and personal baggage.

It was followed by the three-month staff development series with the goal of increasing professional and technical skills of the staff. Training sessions were conducted during monthly staff meetings. Discussed were Effective Communication strategies for authority figures, development of the Why-Igniting Passions and Conflict Resolution.

 

At this point, project implementation is on its third stage which is the creation of a Home for Girls training team, a group that will coordinate and facilitate future staff development activities.

 

The workers

Rosalina Lorque, center head, was quoted saying, “We are thankful to Ms. Hawthorne for helping us and giving a part of herself to us. We value so much her contribution to the center and the optimism and improved ties will be maintained. This will be her legacy to us…that even after her assignment as she is ending her stint in the later part of the year, the efforts for the development of the staff are sustained.”

She further said that the project is well-appreciated by the staff as it gave focus to them to become “change agents and mentors” to the children whom they serve.

 

Blessed

For Hawthorne, being assigned at Home is a blessing. “I feel proud and lucky to be a DSWD and Home for Girls volunteer. I truly feel blessed to be assigned at Home for Girls. All of the staff and residents are amazing and a pleasure to work with. Working at DSWD Home for Girls Field Office VI is a dream come true. I know even after my service they will live in my heart forever,” she said.

“The Regional Director, Ms. Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre, has been supportive every step of the way. I am really appreciative. The Home for Girls OIC Center Head, Rosalina Lorque, has been a dream supervisor. She has supported me in everything. She has allowed me to take chances and pursue projects that I am truly passionate about. Roqueta Aquio, Social Welfare Officer II, has been a superb counterpart. She has amazing ideas, and the quality of her work is extremely high. I always feel that we are a team,” she added./dswd6/May R. Castillo