by: Norman Franklin C. Agustin
Can an advocacy group with members as young as 10 years old make a difference in community development?
The Shelterpark Youth and Children’s Organization (SPYCO) is a community-based children’s association with membership of around 80 children and youth. From a mere theater arts group, the SPYCO has evolved into a community enterprise during the pandemic. “Never in my dream that our association will go this far” said 22 year old Athena Daffodil Pidot, SPYCO’s Vice President. “We only started with a peer-to-peer tutorial, and clean and green clean-up drive project” she added. She was only 17 then.
Early beginnings
Based in Shelterpark in Barangay 170, Caloocan City, the SPYCO was established way back in 2017 with the support of adult facilitators and other like-minded groups that played a gigantic role in the formation of the association. Among of which is the Holy Cross Episcopal Chapel which helped in the spiritual nurture and guidance among the children and youth thru the conduct of vacation church school, leadership training workshops and regular meetings. Also, the Mission Alliance Philippines (MAP) was instrumental in helping the children leaders craft and implement their plans, and with their family’s support, they were able to conduct activities in their barangay.
The group started with only 10 members, and now they have an estimated membership of 80, said Athena. It would be challenging for them if they did not involve other stakeholders like the academe such as the Ateneo de Manila University, the College of St. Benilde, the University of the Philippines Los Banos and the National University that helped in the crafting of SPYCO’s advocacy plans and developed training modules. It also helped in molding the skills and talents of this newly organized group of children and youth.
As a theater arts group, the SPYCO’s advocacy pieces were showcased in their community thru various celebrations of important children’s activities such as children’s month, Nutrition Month and other socio-cultural activities – thanks to the Philippine Educational and Theater Association or PETA that trained them on children’s rights through creative arts.
Community members especially their parents fully supported the SPYCO’s initiatives and advocacy program which is why the barangay local government unit recognized them and guided the children and youth leaders in the registration of their group. It even provided support in the implementation of SPYCO’s activities. The Homeowners’ Association on the other hand, treated SPYCO as a co-equal and even adopted the latter’s advocacy plans in the HOA’s work and budget plans.
It started with a peer-to-peer tutorial with high school students teaching fellow high school students and elementary ones. As a young leader, Athena said that she enjoyed what she is doing. “Though challenging, I am happy to share my talent and skills to other children” she said. These activities went on until the Mission Alliance Philippines supported the establishment of a community learning hub. This learning hub, equipped with various reference materials, equipment such as desktop computers, printers and broadband routers, served the children in their area especially during the lockdown months beginning March of 2020.
Children without gadgets for online class or those who cannot afford to print modules were able to sustain their class participation thru this learning hub. To maintain the learning hub, they charged a discounted fee of One Peso (Php 1.00) for colored printing although this was not always paid by the children. The income from this were saved to buy consumables such as ink refills, bond papers and other supplies.
With their engagement with various stakeholders and their experience in the learning hub, the SPYCO was encouraged to think about engaging in a community enterprise. From their own savings using the data and meal allowance they received from facilitating online workshops to promote children’s rights, they started to buy school supplies from wholesalers, thus, the birth of the community enterprise. This enterprise is accessible as it is located at the front gate of the community where children converge and pass by on their way to school to get modules or on their way back home. Eventually, the store expanded its stocks and included other merchandise such as socks, slippers and other school needs. They also started to sell reusable face masks produced by their parents during the pandemic. Would you believe that thru their meager income, they are able to shoulder some of the medical needs of two of their community members with intellectual disabilities?
The SPYCO is currently negotiating with the National University and is a potential partner for the latter’s Community Library project. If chosen, they will get support from NU for the furnishing, improvement and purchase of additional learning equipment such as desktop computers and printers. “This will be a big help for the education of the children in our community as they won’t have to go out to buy their needs or print their project,” says Athena. “We can also give the lowest price in the community, which will encourage our members to patronize our products and services” she added.
Just recently, the group was recognized by the local government unit in Caloocan City for its exemplary contribution in the community. When asked for their concrete plans to sustain SPYCO’s initiatives, Athena replied that they won’t forever be children and youth so the SPYCO started training second and even third-liners or future leaders. Athena proudly said that some of the third liner leaders facilitated already the vacation church school which was well attended by the children in the community.
Though an uphill battle awaits them in sustaining these initiatives, the SPYCO proved that yes, even with young members like Athena, they can make a big difference!