GVSP wins 9th Tayo Asean awards
Break the Silence aims to raise awareness of deaf kids, women against abuse, exploitation
THE Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme (GVSP) Philippines was recently recognized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) through the 9th Ten Accomplished Youth Organization (Tayo) Asean Awards.
The award was given by Brunei’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Dato Hj Hazair at the Tarindak d’ Polo, Royal Brunie Polo and Riding Club in Jerung, Bandar Seri Begawan.
GVSP was nominated by the National Youth Commission to represent the Philippines for this international awarding event to present its innovative program, Break The Silence (BTS) network project.
The BTS project aims to increase the awareness of deaf children and women against sexual abuse and exploitation.
One in every three deaf women in the Philippines has been raped in a case study conducted by the Philippine Deaf Resource Center.
This statistic led GVSP to launch the project to train deaf volunteers as facilitators to empower deaf children, government agencies and service providers, and the hearing community to learn the cul- ture of the deaf and learn how to communicate with the deaf members in the society.
BTS aims to create a network of likeminded organizations who are able to share success stories, innovative ideas and best practices, and become a creative force addressing child sexual abuse prevention that will benefit the deaf community.
Sign language
GVSP uses three animated films that talks about child sexual abuse, incest and human trafficking in Filipino sign language to ensure that deaf children understand and respond to the trainings given.
One of the success stories of the project was that of Janice Aparri, 29, deaf and a survivor herself. She has been actively helping other deaf survivors fight their day in court by being a facilitator and currently one of the best court deafrelay interpreter assisting cases involving deaf children and women.
GVSP was also a recipient of the 11th Tayo awards-Philippines and The Jesse Robredo Youth and Local Governance Award held last Feb. 6, 2014, held at the Heroes Hall, Malacañang Palace.
Brunei Darussalam was host to the 20th Asean youth day meeting and the 9th Tayo Asean award with the theme, “Youth as an Agent of Change Towards Development of Community and World Peace,” held at Bandar Seri Begaman last Oct. 8-10.