Preda Foundation Launches Awareness-Raising Project in Schools and Communities in Partnership with DepEd Zambales
June 21, 2021 · By Preda News
Preda Foundation Launches Awareness-Raising Project in Schools and Communities in Partnership with DepEd Zambales
The Preda Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) Zambales, has started on 15 June 2021 the implementation of an awareness-raising project in schools and communities in Zambales by putting up information signages that inform the public about the different forms of child abuse and where to report when one knows of a child abuse case. The first information signages were put up at the JFK Special Education Center in Subic District and at the Sagpat Elementary School in San Felipe District. Next week, information signages will be put up in the following schools with approval of their respective school heads: Castillejos National High School, Castillejos Elementary School, San Agustin Elementary School, Nagbayan Elementary School, Hanjin Integrated School and Aningway-Sacatihan Elementary School.
In the past years, the Preda Foundation collaborated with the Schools Division Office of Zambales and Olongapo City in informing and training teachers about Deped Order No. 40 Series of 2012 otherwise known as the DepEd Child Protection Policy. Under the aforementioned policy the Schools Division Office is mandated under Section 6A to “conduct (the) information dissemination activities and in-service training for teachers on the protection of children in school from abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, bullying or peer abuse and other related cases.” On the other hand, schools are mandated under Section 7C to “ensure that all pupils, students or learners, school personnel, parents. . . are made aware of the Child Protection Policy.”
The DepEd Child Protection Policy is congruent with the goal of the Preda Foundation to protect children from all forms of abuse.
Based on the experience of Preda, students disclose their experience of abuse to teachers who they find trust-worthy and responsible. It is therefore very important that teachers know how to respond to such disclosures in an appropriate manner to help the students. Teachers that know how to help these children can save a child’s life.
When teachers and other supposed duty-bearers become the abusers, Preda Foundation helps the victims with protective custody, therapy and healing and legal assistance by filing administrative and criminal complaints. Preda has had several legal successes for the past several years.
