PSID showcases values through art with Good Global Values

MANILA, Philippines - The home is a child’s first school. It is where the young ones are first trained to distinguish between right and wrong. The values children will carry through the rest of their lives are usually formed at home.

However, what about children without a home, those who have been abandoned or orphaned? Just how do they learn these vital lessons that will serve them all throughout life?

The Philippine School of Interior Design  (PSID) Advanced Class of 2014 recently gave the children of Haven for Children a much needed boost in their morale and their morals with their “Good Global Values” mural painting activity held last June 28, in cooperation with Junior Chamber International Alabang (JCI Alabang) and with help from Boysen Philippines and Timpla Paintshoppe.

The Haven for Children is a temporary shelter that provides healing and empowerment to young boys aged up to 17 who are exposed to and recovering from substance abuse.

Located in Alabang, Muntinlupa City and run by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the shelter provides physical and psychological therapy for young boys with substance abuse issues.

“Haven for Children is more than just a shelter for boys with substance abuse issues, We give them a chance at a normal childhood. Aside from the typical services of a shelter, we also have an in-house school for the kids, as well as recreational activities to make the children’s days productive,” says Joel Pangilinan, officer-in-charge of Haven for Children.

Pangilinan explains that many of the children at the shelter are either orphaned or abandoned. Many of them also come from families with a history of abuse. This is something that Haven for Children tries to deal with.

“We understand that part of the reason the kids here have these substance abuse issues is the fact that they did not have good role models growing up. This is what we’re trying to reverse by assigning the boys to a house mother, as well as regular catechism classes,” adds Pangilinan.

This chance to inspire the young to pursue values that will serve them well later in life was what the Advanced Class took into consideration in conducting their outreach activity at Haven for Children. The class got in touch with Haven through a member of the graduation batch, Rhia Flordeliza.

“I’m part of JCI Alabang, a group of young, active citizens who aim to make a difference in the community. One of our projects is called ‘Stairway to Haven,’ where we conduct different activities for the Haven for Children community,” says Flordeliza. “We thought since values formation was something that is very much implemented in the Haven program, we could create an activity centered on these values.”

The students decided on a mural painting activity at the shelter’s entrance gate that showcases five values that are very much stressed at Haven for Children.

“We think that the murals give a very good visual representation of good values, which can inspire the children to imbibe them since they are very useful in the future,” Flordeliza explains.

The mural design was conceptualized by graduating PSID student Alex Esguerra.

“We wanted a mural that was kid-friendly but at the same time artsy. So, we decided to make six separate panels in colorful, psychedelic designs per value,” Esguerra says.

Esguerra further explains that the five values (love, faith, resourcefulness, initiative and courage) were specifically chosen because the class believes that these can be learned and applied by even the youngest child.

“We think that these are values that can be easily understood and applied by kids. For initiative, for example, any child can volunteer to carry his teacher’s things,” she adds. “We wanted to show that good values start young, and that even as young as the Haven kids are, they can have practical applications for the values.”

Haven for Children’s head officer is very happy with how the event turned out.

“This is great because the kids will be reminded every time they see the mural that even as young as they are, values are very important and will be very useful even as they grow up,” Pangilinan enthuses. “This gives them hope that they can turn around from a life of substance abuse if they develop these values.”

Meanwhile, the PSID students learned a lot of valuable lessons from the activity.

“I guess one of the things we learned is that design or art can be inspirational. Through our activity, the kids at Haven for Children can aspire to be whatever they want to be through these values, and we’re happy to be part of that,” says PSID Advanced Class of 2014 public relations officer Rhejayne Tan.

PSID Advanced Class of 2014 is exhibiting “Globalscapes” which features 22 uniquely designed spaces inspired by the architecture, art and culture of different countries. The exhibit runs until Oct. 31 at the Super Sale Hall of SM North EDSA, Quezon City.