Association for the Rights of Children in South East Asia (ARCSEA)
Reference: Sophia Flor Garduce, Executive Director
The solidarity between the Association for the Rights of Children in South East Asia (ARCSEA), a Filipino non-government association and ARCI and UNICOOP, the two major Italian funders, is going stronger in promoting the Filipino child's rights.
The two major players in the Philippine based NGO has been greatly supporting several projects namely; BATABUS, Holy Spirit Day Care Center, Sabata Day Care Center, Veterans Multi-purpose Center, Arakan Valley water and Day Care Project, Dumagat water and Day Care Project and the Children Speak Out Project.
These are not limited to infrastructures alone but also involve capacity building through trainings for the partners in implementing these projects and educating the community on children's rights and other relevant issues.
The right of a child to empowerment and participation has also been an important highlight in the history of the Filipino-Italian partnership. Several children's groups held activities with the help of partner organizations in the Philippines through the Children Speak Out project. This has been a venue for the children to speak their minds on various issues affecting them like poverty, violence, lack of opportunity to a quality education.
The Italian friends visited the communities and were exposed to the real situation of impoverished communities and how this affects the children's lives. It has been a heart breaking yet fulfilling experience for them and provided them with a lot of stories back home.
"The GMA government has not realized the needs of these children unlike our Italian friends. We are very thankful for the Italian partners who openly lend their hands on pushing for a better future for the Filipino children," said Garduce.
Garduce also added, "Unlike GMA and her cohorts, who thinks selfishly of their own interests, our Italian friends want to extend every help possible for the children who are neither their sons nor daughters."
Garduce stressed out that this should be a wake up call for the Philippine government, that instead of being involved in corruption issues and stealing the money of our country, to really serve the marginalized sector, especially the children. "The GMA government should not wait for more foreign help to appease the hunger and ignorance of our younger generations, it is her task and duty as the President to act for the nation and the children's sake."
Other children's organizations joined the Italians for a Solidarity Lunch and shared their experiences with the children who benefited from their programs and services. Together, the Italian funders, ARCSEA and other progressive children's NGOs committed more years of genuine service to the Filipino children.