The “Advocates for Children and Elders (ACE) International Philippines” was formed in January 2006 as a nonprofit charitable organization to address the plight of Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL). This was in response to the CNN documentary on children kept in jail with adult criminals.

The following is the report of the 2007 accomplishment of ACE International, officially registered with SEC and working with DSWD in the NCR and Cagayan de Oro regions. Its prime movers would like to publicly acknowledge and thank all the volunteers who are giving themselves and their time outside their personal obligations and commitment to their jobs to improve the lives of our children. We send our sincerest gratitude to all those generous, civic-minded donors and supporters whose gifts have helped us with our advocacy and service.

Your tax-deductible donations are greatly appreciated . . . We hope you will continue to support our cause,

 
Joy Bruce                                     Virgie Bruce                                               Vicky Neri

President/CEO- NANAY            President, ACE-NCR                               President, ACE-CDO

       Miami, Florida                            Paranaque, Philippines                           Cagayan de Oro, RP

www.ace-international.org          virgiebruce@yahoo.com                        vickneri@yahoo.com

www.nanay.com

Editor’s Note: This web site congratulates the ACE International for strictly complying with the ATIC tenets that this editor coined. ATIC, as in accountability, transparency, integrity and credibility.

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ACE INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES -     Report of Program Activities (January – December 2007)

A.  ACE-NCR PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT – targeted:

o     Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) at Center for Restorative Activities and Development Learning Experiences (CRADLE), with priority on Dorms 1 & 2 that house 20-45 CICL; 

o    10 Youth for Youth (Y4Y) members (9 indigent high school 13-18 years, 1 college),

o    Indigent or abandoned children at the Missionaries of Charity Home in Antipolo City

·         Program components included Values/Spiritual Formation, Competency Development, Health and Sanitation, Crisis Intervention and Educational Assistance

·         For Weekly Values/Spiritual Formation -  total 49 sessions were conducted and 9 Masses (celebrated once a month)- thanks to Gloria Andres and Bobby Choy. Reading materials include Tagalog New Testaments and religious articles and posters

·         For Competency Development – Total 46 weekly ART Classes held by Jess Gellada. Design/paintings by 4 CICL students were eventually used as cover artwork for ACE-printed Christmas gift cards; Some framed artwork are displayed at CRADLE and promoted during special BJMP events. Children were later hired by other NGO’s from CRADLE to work on gift bags (and received P5/bag).

·         First batch of 29 CICL enrolled and 22 graduated from Building/Home Electricity Training Course (supported by Jaycees Manila through efforts of Mr. Randy Manaloto).

·         Out of 12 computers received from CNET-Networks (through LBC Foundation), 5 were turned over to CRADLE for hands-on training of CICL (coordinated with DEPED and integrated to the Alternative Learning School system); 7 \were used for Y4Y hands-on training

·         Provided monthly supply of toiletries and cleaning materials; gave sulphur soap (Kati-alis) to help avert spread of skin disease

·         Supplied emergency medicines for 6 CICL, laboratory cost for 2 CICL and maintenance medicines of 2 CICL with liver and mental illness

·         Facilitated home visits of 3 CICL who were due for release and who were eventually fetched by their respective parents; Parental counseling given by Bobby Choy. One CICL was later given a job, and finally accepted by parent.

·         All CICL in Dorms 1 and 2 were provided twice during the year with set of white-t-shirt and blue shorts that served as their uniforms

·         30 plant boxes given for vegetable planting

·         Through ACE-NCR advocacy, CICL are now allowed to dine on tables at mess hall with proper utensils and wares (not plastics) instead of eating on the floor inside their respective dorms

·         Through ACE-NCR advocacy, BJMP staff now required to take seminars on proper treatment of children – no more reported incidents of physical violence or abuse inflicted on CICL by any person of authority as a result of constant coordination with designated authorities, and CICL are all allowed to play basketball and have outdoor activities 3 x a week

·         For the Y4Y Program in Lopezville, Paranaque City, ACE-NCR went to the squatters area, and supported 10 indigent youth members (1 college, 9 high school) with required uniforms and school supplies

·         Weekly values education with catechism sessions provided by designated parish-based seminarians (in partnership with ACE-NCR), Parent sessions held at least once a month; group counseling on issues and concerns directly affecting youth member and family were conducted by volunteers Myrna Geranus and Gloria Andres, coordinated by Katherine Piramar).

·         Y4Y Program in Congress Caloocan City was coordinated with Office of the Chairman and Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay 173; initial groundwork undertaken by ACE Coordinator Gina de Leon

·         Symposium held with 50 children, with Commissioner of Youth Commission as guest speaker

·         Provided monthly supply of 2 sacks of rice to Missionaries of Charity Home, coupled with visitation of children

·         Visited 15 elderly women inmates (68 years and older) at the National Correctional Institution for Woen

·         Financed Call Center training for unwed single mother, who is now employed

·         ACE-NCR, made up only of 12 volunteers, received 4 awards from various government institutions for work done on CICL

·         La Moyan (another NGO for disabled children) donated 2 boxes (total 576 Happy Toothpaste) and will continue to donate annually

B.    CDO PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT )Jan – Dec 2007): Targeted CICL housed in “Tahanan ng Kabataan: and malnourished children in 10 barangays (100 children per barangay)

·         Values/Personal Hygiene:

o    Invited pastors through Kiwanis International to give talk to children in Tahanan; distributed reading materials about the goodness of God

o    Provided soaps and teacher Junrill conducted sessions to the children once a week to talk about personal hygiene

·         Physical Fitness and Wellness:

o    Conducted Sportsfest (2 days) for children in Tahanan ng Kabataan

o    Donated sports equipment (basketball, ringsm volleyball, chess, bingo, Chinese Checker, etc

o    Served food mixed with Vitameal Rice as part of Feeding Program (in partnership with Kiwanis) to CICL

o    100 children and 50 lactating mothers/barangay for 10 Barangays in Cagayan de Oro were fed with Vitameal 2 times a week

·         Literacy Program

o    Supported Accreditation and Equivalency Program for out of school youth  (27 students) in partnership with Dept of Education for Accreditation and Equivalency

o    Supported E-skwela, a computerized learning program, in partnership with Commission on Information and Communication Technology, Rotary Club, Oro Chamber of Commerce. Some of the students were former CICL’s who are now reformed

·         Advocacy and Networking

o    Through partnership with Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School, teacher volunteers participated in the Literacy and Wellness Program at Tahanan ng Kabataan

o    Plans for Bio-intensive Garden Project initiated by Rey Lomardam, SHJMS Agriculture teacher tor CICL to plant and raise vegetables that they can eat (in cooperation with GREEN MINDS)

o    Requested seeds from for the Bio-intensive Garden Project from Dept of Agriculture; still waiting for signature from Tahanan ng Kabataan authorities prior to starting the Garden Project

o    Had gift-giving and Christ

o    mas party for 100 CICLs and 12 elders of Tahanan ng Kabataan

o    Visited El Salvador Municipal Mayor for possible land donation for the planned Rehab Center of ACE-CDO – deemed not feasible for government to give land donation, but rather suggested buying or leasing property for at least 50 years

2.      Financial Reports (Income and Expenses Jan – Dec 2007   

A.    ACE-NCR

B.    ACE-CDO