Everyone deserves a second chance

Noel awaits his turn to share his experience as a former child in conflict with the law during a media gathering of the Child Rights Network earlier this year. UNICEF Philippines

If I were sent to prison and released, I would have just gone back to my old vices because no one would have accepted me back. Being in jail would simply harden my criminal ways.”

Thus shared Noel*, now 18 and a house-parent at Davao Children’s Village, which used to be called ‘Lamdag sa Kabataan’ (Light for Children). For three years, he was a resident at the facility as part of his diversion program for being a child in conflict with the law.

Noel had had many brush-ins with the police for drug use and petty theft since he was 13. Born to a poor family and barely surviving with five younger siblings, he sniffed crack meth to rid himself of hunger. His tipping point was a case of desperate robbery that resulted in frustrated murder. After Court hearings, his victim’s family agreed to a plea settlement and to check him into Lamdag.

It Takes A Village

Lamdag, as the city’s Bahay Pag-Asa is commonly called, is a shelter for juvenile offenders and at-risk children.  While undergoing debriefing and rehabilitation, they are protected from violence, exploitation and stigma.

Here, social worker Julie Dayaday was witness to Noel’s transformation from offender to youth mentor.

Three years into his diversion program at Lamdag, Noel has gone on to become a house-parent for other children in conflict with the law (CICLs). He now supervises children on life skills, household chores, values education, assigned school work, facilitates group sessions; and encourages them to go to school.

“I look after them because I know how it feels to be in trouble with the law,” he said.

Dayaday had always believed in Noel’s good nature, and that he merely needed to be given a second chance.

Lamdag, the facility that helped Noel get back on track, was set up in 2008 and has since enhanced programs to cater to the children’s changing needs. It now has a school facility, chapel, and recreation areas. There are now two buildings: one for below-18 CICLs; and an administration building that hosts 12 to 15-year old children-at-risk.

The center thrives not just from funds from the city government, but also with the support of partner schools and the private sector.

Under President Rodrigo Duterte’s term as Davao mayor, Dayaday adds, “There was a long history of best-practices for child-related programs.”

Outside The Steel Bars

Having completed his ALS (Alternative Learning System) degree at Lamdag, Noel is now taking up a university degree in Social Work. He has also maintained contact with his family and old community. To defray his university expenses, he also works as a part-time staff for a local government agency that provides social services to children in Davao.

It has not been an easy journey for him, but Noel is glad he took the chance despite the initial hesitation.

“Rehabilitation taught us to work for serious change,” he said.

The support of the community is also a critical factor for success.

Shared Dayaday: “We encourage parents to support and visit their children who are undergoing diversion programs. We also try to reinforce the issue on barangay officials to be more supportive of local social workers.”

At this point, Noel has only one wish: that like him, other children who have had a brush with serious offenses also be given the chance to reform.

* Name has been changed to protect the child’s identity.

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