ZNFEPA touches lives, builds community By Mary May A.

Abellon DIPOLOG CITY - Mother Teresa has once said:At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, and how many great things we have done. But we will be judged by I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in. Indeed not all of us can do great things! But we can do small things with great love. What we only need is a heart full of grace and a soul crafted by love. There are groups formed to emulate these values of helping others to stand on their own, exemplifying the virtues and desirable qualities that help men become responsible citizens. As a civic organization, the Zamboanga del Norte Federation of Parents Association (ZNFePA) has proved that theres no small things in helping others to become effective and competent in their own ways. This organization is espousing various advocacies involving social, economic and quality life issues. For its volunteers, doing community service is a passion and enthusiasm to help others in a way they help themselves. They uphold the spirit of volunteerism by encouraging the members to do community services and humanitarian aid. Non-profit, non-sectarian organization As a non-profit, non-sectarian and non-government organization operating in the cities of Dipolog and Dapitan as well as in the municipalities of Katipunan, Manukan, Roxas and Sindangan, ZNFePA was established on April 16, 2008. However, this organization has long existed for more than 20 years ago in Zamboanga del Norte. It is composed of families from three community associations, namely, the Bantay Dagat Parents Association (BDPA) in Dipolog City, Kasilinganan Parents Association (KPA) of Roxas town and Sto. Nino Bayanihan Parents Association (SNBP) of Sindangan municipality.

These community organizations are the key players in the development of children and families in their respective communities in partnership with the local government units and other stakeholders, said Mark P. Yaba, ZNFePA manager. The resources contributed by the sponsors and donors to ZNFePA are pooled together and used for the developmental programs and projects planned by the members themselves based on the priority needs of children, families and community where they operate, Yaba stressed. The guiding principles The organization envisions a united and self-reliant parent federation that develops children and families to become healthy, educated, valuesmotivated and responsible as well as cooperative and committed members living in peaceful and progressive communities. It aims to establish a strong and harmonious relationship between and among the citizens, officials and the community with a parent federation helping develop opportunities among children to grow up with desirable values. We want to establish and promote vital networking and linkages with the government, private sectors and non-governmental organizations in the fields of health, education, and other social services, Yaba added. One of the primary goals of the organization is to enhance and develop capabilities and potentials of its members for social enterprise and entrepreneurship. Devotion to help Today there are already 600 community volunteers in 51 barangays covered by the organization. ZNFePA is implementing its programs in partnership with the ChildFund, an organization committed to child development. ChildFund sponsors all its projects which have already benefited 4,000 individuals through scholarship grants, training and others.

Children under sponsorships are receiving allowances for their personal needs and studies since the time they got sponsors until they finished their studies. Yaba disclosed that many ZNFePA scholars are now successful in chosen professions and careers. One of them is Rem Ryan Rebutaso who now teaches in a public school. Some are also successful in their business ventures while others are employed in public and private agencies/offices. Some of the scholars have also become ZNFePA employees and a good number continue doing volunteer works for the organization. With its commitment to help children, ZNFePA put up water systems in some Day Care Centers (DCC) and home, and center-based food gardens. It also intensifies Positive Deviance Inquiry among parents and caregivers in the community. Pledge to serve ZNFePA implements programs involving health and nutrition, early childhood care and development, education, children and youth development and micro-enterprise development in partnership with the local government units, agencies and private individuals. Its program for the children has been divided into three life stages such as the Integrated Program toward Health and Secure Infants and Young Children for Life Stage 1, catering to children from zero to five years old with Early Childhood Development, Home-Based Food Production, Safe Motherhood and Maternal New Born Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) as program components. Life Stage 2 for children aged 6-14 years giving emphasis on basic education completion, life-skills acquisition and confidence-building, and child development. Under this setup, ZNFePA gives full support to the barangay council for the protection of children, provides socialized education assistance, conducts thematic camps, peer tutorials and child development sessions, and organizes childrens association in which children can formulate programs and activities on their own.

In Life Stage 3 is for 15-24 years old. It seeks to reinforce opportunities for capacity enhancement, employability and enterprise development for the youth. We organized the children and the youth for them to voice o ut their thoughts and ideas and step by step they can learn how to handle any problem coming their way, Yaba pointed out. They are taught how to speak before the public, to make records and reports. Its like the children learning to become independent to carry out the activities they planned, Yaba said. We are here to guide them, provide funds to be used in any project they come up with, and most importantly to instill in them the values our organization promotes, he concluded. (FPG/MAA/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)