Author: bahayaurora

Staff Attends A Seminar

Every year, we at Bahay Aurora, make sure that the staff will undergo seminar or training. It aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of the staff in handling children for a better service. It also helps the staff to have network with other agencies with the same services, wherein the staff were able to share experiences and will able to realize that not only them were having problem especially with those difficult children. Eight staff members from Bahay Aurora attended the seminar for Child Care Workers in celebration of the Children’s Month at Ynares Center Multi-purpose Hall in Antipolo City which was attended by one hundred twenty (120) participants, the event focuses on the Child Protection Policies that touches the survival, protection and development. Child Protection Policies was discussed by a representative from Child Right Center, Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines.

Early childhood care and development was also discussed and followed by question from the participants.
With this, we can ensure that as a team, we can work hand and hand for the welfare of our children.

Disaster Awareness

Philippines, has 2 season, the dry season which starts in December until May and the wet season at the month of June until November. Depends in the season, how high or low its ability can affect the country that also causes and ended into disasters.
Last week 10 kids and 4 staff-members prepared early to depart to Manila .We arrived very early in the venue and we are the first agency that came in that place as an early birds. When the organizers came, our kids initiated and helped them in putting the chairs and tables.

The program started with a prayer together with inspirational dance number from CRIBS. All kids were randomly grouped so that they can make friends with some other kids from the other agencies and they are guided by the social workers and staffs. Volunteers gave a meaningful message to the kids. Then it followed by the Disaster team that discussed about each types of disaster which are the fire, typhoon, flood and earthquake. They also gave an educational puppet show about these disasters to gain more knowledge and give them helpful tips and information to keep them safe. The drill was practiced outside example is earthquake. They were given also a question and answer regarding to each topic whoever will answer can take home a gift prize.

In the afternoon, the kids played games. Each group presented their own cheers .Their talents in composing song and dance steps came out and they shared it with their co-members and preformed it with confidence and as they knew each other before.

Bahay Aurora kids took many awards and prizes and the smile leave it at their faces after meeting and building new friendship with some other kids.
The kids enjoyed at the same time they improved their readiness, awareness, most importantly they learned a lot on how to deal and how to keep them safe during this time of calamities.

Typhoon Mario can’t break us:

Since PAG-ASA said that it’ll come on Saturday or Sunday, as much as we loved to be at the office on time or as early before our scheduled time, this typhoon caused us some troubles, this is due to flood at some a areas in Rizal where we used to be our ways for us to be at the office. We rented a tricycle from our home up until Bahay Aurora taking other long ways and turns for us just to be at the office, the only thing that comes to our mind onour way there is to be at the office and not to be absent and took care of the children since the weather is not that good. Angel our maintenance had to swim a long track to be able to leave his house and come to work. He was needed because the generator needed to be started since there was no electric. After hours he arrived, fixed the generator and we had electric again. In the night it is too hard to be without. Candles are dangerous so we are thankful he helped us out. (he will be a good candidate for a triathlon !) As we arrived at the office we(staff), the children and also the OJTs helped each other to prepare since the weather is getting worst, we fetch water for drink, candles, flash lights and other necessities, put all clean clothes of the children and other important things at a higher place since we don’t know if the flood will rise up or if it’ll be high again like the past typhoon Ondoy, we are thinking that there’s nothing wrong of being prepared at all times rather than risking all things up and also thinks about the safety.
After we prepared, we gathered all our children from Bahay Aurora since that classes are all suspended we decided to have a movie but unfortunately when all are set, electricity got disconnected so we need to think of other ways for them not to be bored, so we encouraged them to be on a computer room (upstairs) and let them stay but with a guidance of an older person (staff and OJTs).
After all that happened today, still we are all thankful since all of us are safe, stayed happy and enjoyed the company of each other though there is a typhoon outside.

Dance Therapy

Bahay Aurora would like to welcome our new volunteer from Belgium. Kristien Maus will stay till September 12,2014.
A graduate of Dance and movement therapy.

Her goal is to give a good or new experience to the kids by expressing their emotions in dance movement.
She is expecting that the kids will learn something from the dance and movement sessions, that they will be stronger and feel better.
She thinks that Bahay aurora is a very nice initiative and a good place for the kids.

The kids looks happy, and its like a huge family taking care of each other. Kristien, Welcome to the family!
Dance therapy is beneficial to both physical and mental health. It is used as a method of reducing stress, and has been used by various groups of people including caregivers and people with chronic illness. In addition, the physical impact it has on participants includes increased muscular strength, coordination, and mobility, and decreased muscular tension.Emotionally, this form of therapy enables people to gain a greater sense of well-being and self-awareness and provides an outlet for the expression of feelings.

Some experts believe that dance therapy may also insulate the body from disease by strengthening the immune system.

And she’s back!

After few months, ‘Ate Melissa’ a former volunteer of Bahay Aurora came back for a visit.

Except from a suitcase full of ‘stroop wafels’, the kids were surprised of seeing her parents together with Melissa.
Mr. Frank and Mrs. Iris painted bunches of smile in children’s faces.
Melissa for another time, made the kids so happy seeing her after school sitting under the same old mango tree.

With lots of hugs, the happiness was visible in their actions. The kids really had a good bond with her as if she never left and it’s not the first time to meet her parents. For a whole week stay in Bahay Aurora, they joined the kids with their various daily activities especially the exercise, dances and games every afternoon. And of course, to make their stay more memorable with the kids, they had a swimming outing and video-oke’ sing along afterwards.

According to Mr. Frank, their visit was a worthwhile vacation because in return, they received joy from the kids which is indeed more than what they gave. And through this short visit, now they do understand why their daughter was that eager to go back in Bahay Aurora.

The kids were so thankful of seeing her once again together with her parents. Full of gratitude, they made some cards for Melissa and her parents. Simple cards with meaningful messages dedicated for her compassion and sincerity of spreading all the love she has.

Until next time ‘Ate Melissa’ & parents, welcome to the family!

Medication donated

Bahay Aurora received a donation of one box of assorted medicines from our friend Rojan Traders Unlimited,Inc.

Some medicines includes carbocisteine, ambroxol, ascorbic acid, cloxacillin. Last year October 2013 they have promise during our dental mission September 29, 2013 that they are going to donate some medicines for the kids, which it was happen last Monday afternoon.

So after dinner the Bahay Aurora children we’re able to take the vitamins ascorbic acid and some able to help cough and colds and future infections.

The Bahay Aurora staffs we’re very happy and grateful to Rojan Traders Unlimited,Inc. who does not stop in giving medicines and help Bahay Aurora children to meet their health needs. The Bahay Aurora are continue praying and thankful for the people who work and share their life, special gifts and kind hearts to help Bahay Aurora kids and in return

God will bless them a hundred folds.

Memorable birthday

Last week Tuesday (July 29), the staff organized a simple yet very meaningful and memorable birthday celebration. It was for the children who were born on the month of July.

Those children are Merlie who just turned 11, Mary Ann who is now 9 and lastly James, the newest child in the institution who is also 9 years old.Every month we celebrate the birthdays of that month because with so man kids it is simply not possible to do it on the day the child has his or her birthday, 2 or 3 times a week a party is no fun anymore.

We set the tables and chairs up in the basketball court and have party for them. As we displayed the birthday banner, smiles on their faces started to appear that brightened the whole foundation up despite the gloomy weather.The celebration started with a prayer led by Rodel (aka B2) and right after that was a birthday song sung by all of them for the birthday celebrants.

Happy Birthday means ‘Maligayang Kaarawan’ in Filipino/Tagalog.

Ate Rowena prepared the food that the children really enjoyed eating.

Merlie, Mary Ann and James were very thankful as they received individual gift from the staff of Bahay Aurora.

Being prepared means being save

One of the most powerful storms that hit Philippines this year is typhoon ‘Glenda’ that dealt Metro Manila a glancing blow of about three hours but it was enough to shut down the capital, the howling winds of Glenda brought down trees, electric posts and ripped off roofs across Metro Manila where government offices, schools and the stock market were shuttered for a day.

As a preparation for the typhoon before it happens, our kids from Bahay Aurora prepared their important things like emergency lights with batteries in case that there would be brownout, school uniforms, school materials, food to eat and even water to drink and also to be used for bathing and etc., that were assisted by the staffs on duty.

And afterwards, kids and staffs prayed for everyone’s safety and God protection. After the typhoon, the kids together with the staffs on duty help each other to clean the facilities. Glenda (Typhoon) leaves the Philippine area of responsibility last Thursday (July 17, 2014).

Dengue Awareness

The Philippines is a tropical country who experiences two seasons, it is the rainy and sunny season. When rainy season arrived, different diseases were spread especially when places experienced natural calamities such typhoons and floods.
News started coming out in the televisions, radios and newspapers with the diseases that Filipinos.
Some of these dreadful diseases encountered are leptospirosis who came from rats and the malaria and dengue form mosquitoes.

Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease of human. This disease doesn’t select the status of its victim. Any member of the society may suffer this disease.So we had a little a little activity together with the kids to clean the surroundings, In this kind of activity it is really a good way for them to practice the cleanliness and awareness of the dengue fever.is a good activity that makes them aware and does their share in helping minimize the deadly disease by clean-up drive.

To prevent dengue fever, you must prevent the breeding of its carrier, the Aedes mosquitoes. Aedes mosquitoes are identified by the black and white stripes on their body. You can get rid of the Aedes mosquito by frequently checking and removing stagnant water in your home.

The usual biting time of the mosquitoes is every early in the morning and early dawn and children are the frequent victims since they used to play everywhere especially after classes.

The best way to fight dengue is through sustained cleanliness and sanitation.

ART

ART like its definition; something that is created with imagination and skill, beautiful and expresses
important ideas or feelings; a skill acquired by experience, study or observation.

These inspired me and made me wanted to connect art with the Bahay Aurora’s kids. I witnessed their creativity and
capability; they just need help in order to express it.

It’s fun to be with them learning, making new and different letters in their own unique designs and how
they make it colourful. It will also a great help to them especially if they practice more because with
this they can do their projects with their awful hand, they can make beautiful cards, paintings,
posters etc. and it can also be their source of income near future.

Leann