Written by Karla Jane San Juan, Program Coordinator; with reports from Justine Grace Cabria, Documenter

Educo Philippines hosted a two-day “Review of Educo Toolkits and Manuals” at The Pepperland Hotel, Legazpi, Albay, from September 4 to 5, 2024.

Jaypee Mapula, Area Manager of Albay-Sorsogon, highlighted the advocacies and initiatives of Educo Philippines and emphasized the importance of reviewing the manuals and toolkits.

Over the course of the two-day session, participants from various agencies — the Departments of Education, Interior and Local Government, Labor and Employment, Social Welfare and Development, and the Council for the Welfare of Children — actively collaborated in a comprehensive review and examination of existing toolkits and manuals developed by Educo. These include the toolkits on Child Rights and Wellbeing (CRWB), Child Protection (CP), the Child-Led Advocacy Toolkit (CLAT), and the Child-Led Project Management Toolkit (CLPMT). The review aimed not only to assess the toolkits but also to foster partnerships and shared goals among the participating departments.

John Vincent Dumadangon, Child Youth Empowerment Agency Sector Lead, outlined the developmental journey of the toolkits, emphasizing that the workshop’s primary objective was not to overhaul but to enhance the content.

The two-day workshop proved successful, exceeding expectations with positive engagement among participants from various agencies, consultants, and Educo Philippines staff. The primary goal of reviewing the manuals and toolkits was successfully achieved.

In his closing remarks, Adan Monterde, Area Manager of Catanduanes, expressed gratitude to all participants and expressed his hope that the improved toolkits would benefit not only their target users but also other communities.

Marlon Villanueva, Educo Philippines’ new Country Director and incumbent Director of Programs, concluded the event by urging participants to “champion” the toolkits within their own institutions.

Educo Philippines remains dedicated to producing enhanced and reliable toolkits and manuals that will greatly benefit their end-users and the community.