MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The World Vision Philippines is now eyeing to get broader coverage in their advancement of the well-being of children in the city as they officially opened Year 2 of their Urban Child Protection and Participation Project (UCPPP).

“In Year 2, we are really hoping na makaexpand kami para [to expand so that] more children will join. We will reach more children, partners and communities at ang naumpisahan namin sa Year 1 ay ma-sustain at ma-strengthen para kung may Year 3 man [and whatever was started in Year 1 will be sustained and strengthened so that if ever there will be Year 3], more barangays will be covered,” said World Vision Philippines Operations Manager Beth Delgado. 

Delgado underlined that in the first year of enforcing the UCPPP, they reflected on the responsiveness of their partners which led them to center the next year of their project on increasing the targeted children in pursuit of bolstering their advocacy of attaining a conducive environment for all the children.

Apart from the protection and participation, she revealed that they also aim to strengthen their interventions for the health and nutrition of the children by pushing for equipped health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities. 

Moreover, the livelihood of parents belonging to vulnerable communities would also be given attention, believing that this would contribute to the welfare of their kids. 

“Very important iyon [That is very important]. Year 2 ay [will be] more children to be reached, strengthen ang [the] health and nutrition and partnership when it comes to WASH and health facilities, and livelihood for sustainability sa [of the] identified families,” said Delgado. 

The operations manager shared that earlier this month, they gathered anew their partners from the City Schools Division of Marawi and other stakeholders to tackle the amplification of their collaboration, especially with the implementation of another year of UCPPP, so that it would not create any conflict with other existing projects.

Further, she stated that they also discussed efforts to magnify the leadership of children for them to become more empowered as peacebuilders not only for the city but for Mindanao as well. 

Continuously persevering in their advocacy, Delgado reiterated the commitment of her organization to tend to children in the target areas, underscoring that such beneficiaries have all the potential within them to become good leaders who can change the course of the history of the country. 

“We, in the World Vision, are here to provide you with opportunities and space for you to develop your skills and leadership, and even you to bring out your full potential as children and our future leaders not only for Marawi but for Mindanao and the Philippines,” she said. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)