MARAWI CITY (PIA) — World Vision Philippines officially concluded its Urban Child Protection and Participation (UCPP) project in Marawi City, marking a significant milestone in improving the lives of local children and strengthening community-based child protection systems.
To celebrate the project’s achievements, honor its partners, and outline future collaborations, World Vision hosted a year-end summit on November 20 in Marawi City.
The UCPP project, which focused on enhancing child protection mechanisms in schools and communities, has delivered many interventions that have benefitted thousands of children and families in the city. Among its notable accomplishments, the project provided learning kits to 19,950 students.
It also trained 1,402 teachers and volunteers in inclusive, learner-centered education approaches. Moreover, the project supported 7,102 learners enrolled in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) by providing them with learning materials and empowering 301 children to participate in peace education and life skills activities.
“We are proud of the progress we have made, and we hope to highlight collective efforts, celebrate our partners, and affirm our commitment to sustaining the progress and gains that we have achieved,” said UCPP Project Manager Adonis A. Casinillo.
The three-year project was also instrumental in addressing critical child protection concerns in the Bangsamoro region. A total of 233 child protection cases were monitored, referred to relevant authorities, and supported, while 1,797 service providers were trained on how to respond to child protection concerns. In addition, 3,334 children received training in protection-related life skills and 1,263 out-of-school youth participated in child protection orientations.
The project also helped strengthen 10 Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children (BCPCs) and organized 134 Barangay Children’s Associations, fostering community-led child safeguarding initiatives.
On health and nutrition, the UCPP provided orientation to 1,178 caregivers on responsible parenting through the “Go Baby Go” approach. The project also supported 584 families with vegetable production and trained 59 community health workers to strengthen local healthcare systems. Twelve health stations and the City Health Office were also equipped with essential materials to serve the population better.
In terms of livelihoods, the project directly impacted 423 families by providing cash assistance to help restart their income-generating activities. At the same time, 160 individuals received technical and vocational training, and 52 people joined Savings for Transformation (S4T) groups, helping improve their financial stability and economic resilience.
World Vision Philippines Operations Director Ajab Aram Macapagat highlighted the resilience and determination shown by all project partners during the summit. He emphasized that the project year-end summit was an opportunity to celebrate the journey of collaboration, dedication, and shared commitment over the past years, noting that the commitment and passion of the partners in Marawi have been a strong inspiration to continue the work.
“What inspired us to do more is the commitment and passion of our partners in Marawi. We are very grateful for that. The dedication, the commitment, and the spirit of collaboration are alive here in Marawi. This summit celebrates our partnerships and highlights our significant achievements,” he said.
Macapagat also stated that while the UCPP project is concluding, World Vision’s work in Marawi would continue through a new Peace Project. (APB/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)
