Two former Japanese volunteers under the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) Program of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with teachers of the Tagbilaran City Central School Special Education Center established recently a support center for children and youth with special needs in Bohol.
Called the Babita House, the center aims to support children and young adults with disabilities by providing them vocational skills trainings that can help integrate them in the society.
Present during the opening of the support center were JICA Chief Representative in the Philippines Susumu Ito, and officials from the Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan, local governments of Tagbilaran City and Municipality of Dauis and representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry and Bohol Investment Promotion Center.
Japanese volunteers Akiko Sugiyama and Ruiko Wada were formerly dispatched in Tagbilaran City Central School SPED Center (October 2012-March 2015) and Department of Education (DepEd) – Tagbilaran City Schools Division (July 2013-June 2015) respectively.
“The support center reflects the commitment of JICA and the JOCVs in giving hope and opportunities to everyone,” said JICA Chief Representative in the Philippines Susumu Ito. “Through the activities of our Japanese volunteers, we hope to contribute to the Philippines’ thrust of building an inclusive society where a life of dignity is enjoyed by everyone.”
The Babita House, located in the Municipality of Dauis in Bohol, is a one-storey building that also houses dormitories for special children and young adults.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that of the number of people with disabilities in the Philippines, the number was higher for those in the ages 5 to 19 years old.
“We are happy to provide education to children with special needs and we hope that they will be able to enjoy a life without discrimination,” shared Japanese volunteer Akiko Sugiyama.
Sugiyama was among the many Japanese volunteers who returned to the Philippines to pursue advocacy work. This year, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the equivalent of Asia’s Nobel Prize, recognized the JOCVs for their selfless work in building solidarity with the rest of the world.
In all, there were more than 1,500 Japanese volunteers dispatched to the Philippines under JICA’s JOCV Program to support various development areas.
Former Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) Akiko Sugiyama (second to the right, in kimono) opens the Babita House in Dauis, Bohol, a support center for children and young adults with special needs. Officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan, local governments of Tagbilaran City and Municipality of Dauis, and representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry and Bohol Investment Promotion Center attended the opening of the center.
