"Ito ang nagbibigaykulay at kaligayahan

sa mga kabataan"

ESCOPA KILOS KABATAANPARA SA BAYAN (EKKB)

CHILD - FOCUSED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

C A S E S T U D Y R E P O R T

Escopa Kilos Kabataan para sa Bayan (EKKB) wasestablished in 2015 in response to the need to raiseawareness on the rights of the children. It is based in Brgy.Escopa III, Quezon City and works hand in hand withGawang Kamay as the partner local community-basedorganization in the community.

EKKB as a community-based children association (CBCA)has a total membership of 74 children including membersand officers with ages ranging from 10 to 17 years old. They are guided by the child-focused communitydevelopment programming of LINGAP that was developedthrough the on-going process and engagement of theorganization and the local church partners in thecommunity.

Lingap initiated the organization of children such as EKKBin Barangay Escopa III through the capacity and formationof CBCAs.

Background

C A S E S T U D Y R E P O R T

Escopa Kilos Kabataan para sa Bayan (EKKB)learned from various capacity buildingactivities intended for children's associationsthat aim to hasten children and youthknowledge and skills. EKKB pulled theirlearnings through these training, seminars, andother empowering workshops. They identifiedthese activities such as; the National Children'sCongress, Bible study, Children's monthcelebration, and other EKKB communityactivities.

Learning from the Experience" Ang mga pagsubok at hadlang ay tinetest kung gaano katibay ang organisasyon"

However, they have to deal with differentorganizational challenges or "hamon andhadlang" according to their own version. Thesechallenges were identified as;misunderstanding, non-cooperation amongmembers, self-centeredness, not havingenough time to attend bible study activity, andprojecting very low self-esteem.

Nevertheless, EKKB used these "hamon andhadlang" as steps to overcome organizationalissues and challenges. An Organizationaltransformation took place one step at a time. Members become cooperative, moreunderstanding with fellow EKKB friends, faithwas strengthened unlike before and they knowhow to interact in society.

Further, EKKB is now more God-centered, inparallel with being more child rights conscious.

" ang mga

pagsasanay po ay

paraan upang

mapaghusay ang

isang bagay" (EKKB)

C A S E S T U D Y R E P O R T

For EKKB, teamwork is part of the process. It'sall about unity, support, and collective workcoming from each member of the association. Although there are members that are very newin EKKB, it does not limit their commitment toengage in various organizational initiatives.

Most of them are joining EKKB because theywant to know their rights as children andyouth in their community. Their interest is toraise their awareness of children's issues thenadvocate for the eradication of those injustices. Because of these, they want EKKB to beremembered as; "nakakatulong sa bawat bata,nagtuturo ng mabuting asal at nagmumulat ngmga bata sa pamamagitan ng pagtuturo ngkanilang mga karapatan".

Understanding the Process"Pagkakaisa ng bawat grupo, pagtulong sa kapwa at sa miyembro"

Creating projects - a stage where theychallenge their creativeness as anorganizationInstilling good values - members areencouraged to imbibe positive valuesduring recruitment.Child rights orientation - members areeducating about CRCIdentifying leaders - allowing members anopportunity to leadCreating a nurturing environment like achildren and youth organization

Concrete organizational process for EKKB arethe following;

The process is important for EKKB becausethey believe that it determines their identitytogether with their full rights.

"ang bawat kulay

ay sumisimbulo sa

kagandahan ng

EKKB"

C A S E S T U D Y R E P O R T

CooperationGroup supportPrayer (they feel spiritual upliftment)Listening (it gives comfort to their friendsin the organization)Unity towards common initiatives, andPAKIKISAMA establishing relationshipswith other group members.

Inactive (not participating in theorganization's activities)UncooperativeNot following the leadershipInattentive during events, meetings, andplanningNot following the organization's rule Spending too much time on gadgets (up tothe point that other members do not havesocial interaction.

"It is a combination of initiatives and creatingprojects". This is what strategy looks like forEscopa Kilos Kabataan para sa Bayan (EKKB).Leading as child and youth to a fellow child andyouth is effective leadership wherein a majorfactor to consider is "pakikisama sa mga kapwamiyembro sa asosasyon".

They know how to classify effective and not soeffective strategy within EKKB.

For effective:

While the not so effective are;

Our unique strategy"Lider na mga bata ang gumagawa ng pamamahala sa kapwa bata"

sustained support to members is importantfrequent reminders can be a major factorthat serves as an alarm on particular tasks,meetings, events, and other communityengagement.Prayers - they believe that it uplifts thespiritIn return, members generate their positivevalues and shared them with theorganization.

The association believes that effectivestrategy does not mean to implement strictrules to impose leadership. They know thatcreating fear within EKKB does not help pullback inactive members.

Therefore, open dialogue and meetings aretheir ways to level off differences that existwithin EKKB.

Also, other strategies such as;

C A S E S T U D Y R E P O R T

They know the value of strengthening theorganization, especially during this pandemic. They can see the need for meaningfulparticipation among members of EKKB andother Community-based Children’sAssociations (CBCAs).

However, due to current health crises, theyare now facing a bigger challenge which optedfor them to stop various routine activities. They decided to put on hold activities like;urban gardening, the "bente bente" savingsscheme - a savings mechanism objectivelyorganized to extend minimal support foremergency and for buying affordable schoolmaterials.

This health crisis is limiting EKKB to go outbecause of their vulnerability to health risks.Nevertheless, EKKB pushes to conduct theirmeetings, activities, and other communityengagement virtually. They utilize group chaton the social media platform to monitor thecondition of each member. They adoptconducting online meetings and other majoractivities like children's month using a zoomlink and other possible digital applicationsthat can sustain EKKB's exchange ofinformation and communication.

EKKB during Pandemic"Pagpopromote po sa mga tao na stay healthy".

Help isolated elderlies by providingconstant advisory on health protocols,constant reminders to stay at home.Make and donate facemask. Face maskdonations were done previously throughthe barangay.Protect mental health, using the "TikTok"challenge while staying at home. They alsodo visual arts activities to express theircreativity.Feeding of their members who are most inneed that is affected by the lockdown.Provide child care -constantly advocatingfor child rights to prevent child abuseduring a lockdown.Promote healthy behavior - they continuedoing community health awareness toincrease better health consciousness.Keep people safe online - posting friendlyreminders about health protocols, mentalhealth advocacy, and other pandemics-related advice that can support the onlinecommunity.

The following are the activities that EKKBcan do during a pandemic: