by Degs Duron

Davao City (8 October) -- Together with its various partners and supporters, the DSWD Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) celebrates its 30th anniversary on Friday, October 10.

Highlighting the celebration is a Thanksgiving Mass; Blessing and Inauguration of its annex building, library and canteen; Launch of the RRCY Multi-Purpose Cooperative and productivity projects; and Awards Ceremonies where DSWD Assistant Secretary Ruel G. Lucentales is guest of honor and Atty. Alberto Muyot of UNICEF will turnover book donations.

Theme for the event is RRCY at 30: Accessing Opportunities to Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) Towards Productivity and Independent Living.

Located in Bago Oshiro, Tugbok Dstrict, the center stands in a 3-hectare rehabilitation complex where CICLs work with an interdisciplinary team of social workers, psychologists, house parents and homelife staff.

Various activities at the center enable the CICL benefit from an intensive management of his deviant behavior and anti-social attitudes and prepare him for successful adjustment to his family and community after release.

The youth offenders from age 15 and below 18 are cared for under a structured therapeutic environment to help them become socially functioning individuals.

"To prepare them for independent living, our youth residents are involved in productivity projects such as vermi-culture and composting, anthurium production, goat raising, carpentry and masonry, and food production and processing," explains Mila T. Segovia, RRCY head. The boys are also active members of the RRCY Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Pasalubong Counter, she said.

"Members of our rehabilitation team continuously undertake capacity building activities to enhance their knowledge and skills and enable them to cope and practice the emerging trends associated with various social work interventions and other case management techniques applied in the center," Segovia stressed.

Upon discharge of the youth, the center coordinates with the concerned city or municipal social welfare officer to ensure smooth reintegration of the client to the family or community. The local social worker conducts after care monitoring and supervision for the client's welfare and safety.