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“Minor Social Work” Sharing What I Have

 BACKGROUND CASE

They are the persons we met at that day. A day full of happiness and delight in our hearts. The first one on the picture I a lady, she’s 38 years old. Working outside a fast food chain to help her family and to support herself with the medicines she need. The three boys below the lady was such a helper. They help a man to pick up some drinks in a soft drinks tamp. The two of them was 11 years old, while the other one is only 10 years old. The little girl standing is a 7 years old. She’s living in her aunt. Yes she is studying but it’s not easy for her to study and to go to school consecutively. At that moment, she doesn’t have any. Just the clothes she’s wearing since she don’t have slippers.

EXPERIENCES

After doing the said social work, our hearts are filled with happiness and joy. We realized that we’re still lucky to have what others doesn’t have. We’re luck and blessed to have the things we want while others are still aiming for it. And we’re also happy to help them on our special little way. And we’re also blessed to know their story, why they are doing those. And we’re glad talking to them, knowing what really matters in their heart. Because we think, people need someone to talk to. Even you’re rich or no. What more for those people whose struggling almost all of their life. And it’s also a therapy for them because somehow, we realize that yes, giving food can help them. But, talking to them and letting them feel that you’re there for them is the best thing aside from those snacks you’ll give.

Sometimes we’re complaining on what we have while others doesn’t have any. So we also ask to ourselves that how they can even survive that kind of lifestyle. And it’s also a relief that we helped people and it’s like a big achievement for us. And while we’re giving them the love we have thru giving, people are staring. Somehow, there’s a disappointment that instead of staring, why not help and lend their hands even on the simplest way.

At first, we admit that we’re doing it for the sake of our grades. But as time goes by, we’re loving what we are doing –spreading love to others thru the art of giving. We don’t think about the grades, but think about people surviving those kind of hardships and obstacles in life.

BEHAVIORS (ETHICAL/UNETHICAL; IF THERE’S A LICENSE SOCIAL WORKER)

DAY 5 (FRIDAY) FLYERS X FREE SNACKS X VISITORS

For this day I have the afternoon shift, 1 P.M. to 5 P.M., we first did the flyers to the community in a group but after that we didn’t do anything interesting at all except talking with the community about our project plan which received some positive feedback. I was just outside the Ate Roselle’s house looking or talking with the kids with my group members. After out shift Saflor give Abad, Villanueva and I some snacks and shake it was very delicious especially because it was brought by someone else after eating out before dinner snacks we came back to the community armed with our lunch packs and water to eat with the family. It was around 6 P.M. and we were still not eating when Ma’am Eullo visited us in the house which also gained Nathaniel another love interest, It was a short visit that lasted for half an hour. After the subject teacher left the kids gotten a little bit playful and would horseback playing with me and Amanda which ended up tiring me very quickly and so cut the activity to rest for a minutes and so the pancit that we bought for them was being played by the kids instead. We ended up not eating in there as we ate in Jen’s house.

First night: Maliksi I Barangay Hall

We ate dinner at Mama Jemma’s house for as we contributed the dishes. We ate fried meatloaf, and Adobong paa ng Manok by Mama Jemma. There is no such thing as picky eater because our stomachs are crying for food.

           We had discussed of course the narration of the day’s happening – from the community play up to Mama Jemma’s children and their differences. We’re 11 people who stayed for the night, including Em and Ariane who was already sleeping in the photo taken.

           Particularly to the agenda, we decided to extend the promotional process of our project plan, seminar and talent show for children of the chosen community. The said plan became the words of the mouth the next morning. We spent time with children aside from Mama Jemma’s family but also with other kids deserved to acknowledge and of course to play with.

By 5:30 in the afternoon, after resting, we started preparing for our dinner. Sarah brought rice and I brought 2 cans of meatloaf and a can of corned beef. While the other members cook food, the others bought water and food for our breakfast. We had our dinner past six in the evening. We distributed our viand equally giving one slice of meatloaf to each member of our group and Mama Jemma’s family. Aside from the meatloaf, Mama Jemma cooked adobong paa ng manok and atsara. Honestly, I don’t eat chicken feet but since we only have one slice of meatloaf each and I know for sure that I will be hungry by night if I won’t eat much, I tried the chicken feet. It was not really bad. Truthfully, the taste is okay and Sarah and I liked it even though it’s our first time eating eat – Sarah and I shared plate so my ulam is her ulam, too.

After cleaning the place, we decided that half of our group will go to the Barangay Hall to arrange the place we will be sleeping. Upon reaching the hall, we’re shocked that they told us that we will be sleeping on Kapitan’s office. Is looks like a small apartment because it has a kitchen and bathroom. We arranged the place and chose our spots where we will sleep then started cleaning ourselves while we wait for the other members. The other half of our group arrived quarter to 8 in the evening.

We finished cleaning ourselves by 10 so we’re already lights off even though we’re still awake. We decided to turn off the lights because we heard some group of teenagers walking outside like there will have a fight or something. Since we are not yet sleepy, we contented ourselves talking with lights off. Eddie turned on her phone’s flashlight so we can have a source of light. She started shadow playing and I don’t know if we’re just too tired or our humor's just the same and we have shallow happiness that we burst in to laughter with Eddie’s shadow play.

We stayed up awake until midnight and I decided to sleep by that time while the others slept by 3 o’clock. I woke up at past 4 am and was a little nervous since Eveth is not on her spot. I have calmed down when Eddie told me that Eveth is on her spot.

The Hemo of a Hero 

Background Case: According to Ma’am De Vega, currently working in DelPA as a teacher, the bloodletting program of IUC (Imus Unida Christian) Church happens twice a year or in every 6 months. This program we attended is the second bloodletting for this year, and the next month for the said program will be on February 2018. The lowest age allowed donating are 16, and of course and above; the donation event coordinator also encourages walk-in to participate and save lives, by donating a 450ml blood bag.

Participants from Del Pilar Academy initially gained knowledge of the project through a poster hung outside the church. Additional promotion from the organization was also to give away complimentary t-shirts to the first 17 participants.

Red Cross – Cavite was the official partner of the organization, but other licensed and/or professionals in the medical field around Imus also helped in the program. Social workers present in this program applied their principles in the medical sector of society, though this program branches out to other scopes (for those who may need the blood vary in age, and social class).

(Advincula, E.M.G. and Toledo, E.F.)

Shared Experiences:

2: The donating participants during the bloodletting (Photos by E. Toledo)

Goals: First, goals on caring, coordinators and marshals welcomed us warmly and bravely as if were about to win a war. In addition, breakfast (usually helps regulate the body like banana, bread and boiled egg) before and after the actual blood donation were provided, especially for donors.            When it comes to curing, the program may cure the selfishness of others because sharing is caring, and donating is curing. Also, extending life is a small step way to selflessness and literally cures patients who badly need it.            Lastly, changing, promotes change for the better factor for both donor and receiver. Because when the receiver eventually uses your donated blood, you’re now considered to be blood related humans regardless of race, color, etc.            Ethical: Social workers, coordinator, or other personnel can handle client who panic in this type of activity, professionally. Meaning, the process of donating may delay, but they (workers/personnel) can motivate to donate at least.            Unethical: Doctors and other staff did not follow the given time according to program start time; basically they’re about 1 hour late.

(Toledo, E.F.)

           Further experiences were shared by the participants of the bloodletting, as to how they felt in serving a stranger by giving their blood.

“My experience in or mini immersion is at first while going there I’m relaxed and said to myself it’s not painful I can handle it.

And when I saw where we will get our blood I feel scared, weak, stressed, and also shocked at the same time because I saw the ambulance and the this that they will need for the blood that they will get from us and even though at first the needle in my body or hand o some of my body it feels itchy and hurt at the same time and when its inside it doesn’t hurt and it was kind of good I can feel how warm mg blood is and I was excited to donate blood again.

When they check my blood type I was kind of shocked and sacred because I was like sleeping beauty and got pinch by the needle and when I came on the second station there very friendly and nice in the us student of Del Pilar Academy I can see that many people are kind to in different  but all in all it was satisfying and also feel great because i will help those who need blood I must say this activity I want to encourage many youth like me to donate blood to save blood because even though it’s just a blood but that little will save a life,” were Jewel Hernandez’s sentiments.

Another donator, Glenn Huerto, shared how afraid terrifying and fulfilling was the bloodletting for him. “I would like to say that my experience with this social work was easy, but it really wasn't; I personally am afraid of syringes, or the idea of having needles stuck on my bloodstream, and the fact that it can hurt so much while also taking much out of my body drove me into fear. This was the first time I ever did something like this, and the build up to actually giving blood was maddening in a way, the moment itself something I wanted but also was afraid of.

Still, actually giving blood was fulfilling in its own way; aside from the complimentary free T-Shirt, the idea that I can possibly extend, or even save, someone's life gave me a wholesome feeling. In addition, the way that I can get past one of my greatest fears and brush it off as easy in the end was a fulfilling feeling. I honestly feel like donating once more in the future, as crossing my own personal barrier while helping someone else is a good enough prospect for me.”

Even though she was unable to donate her own blood, Ariana Tanaleon shared how proud she felt for her co-members, she writes: “Honestly, my experience regarding this mini immersion was so hard because I am a hemophobic person. I felt dizziness, also, paleness of my skin appeared but on the other hand, I am proud of myself even though I am not part of blood donor. And lucky for me, I survived when I saw the actual donating of blood- before, during and after.

Donating blood can save many lives and I believe I'm having a progress already to overcome my fear when it comes to blood. Some of my groupmates did that thing and for me, they are the modern heroes.”

MINOR SOCIAL WORK: EDUCATION UNDER THE BRIDGE

Education is a right, not a privilege but with the current state of our country, it’s not surprising that there are children living in the obscured parts of the country deprived of decent educational environment and assistance.

Background case: street child

Our group conducted an activity wherein we pick a street child to give alms as a part of our social work.

Afternoon, Monday on September 25, 2017, we saw two boys dwelling in an abandoned convenience store in Imus ranging from ages 10-15 years old. The older one is sleeping so we caught the attention of the younger kid. Jen, our groupmate asked and promised him help that we will come back on the said time and day to bring him every day basic needs such as canned goods, biscuits, water and clothes.

We came back on Wednesday at 5:00 PM, none of them were there but we saw their things left. Luckily we saw him at McDonalds parking lot. We approached him and asked him if we could conduct an interview to him. We found out that he used to be at DSWD but he escaped, and has been a street child for 8 years. The boy looks strong but as a child who roams around Imus, He already adapted the traits and habits of a street dweller. After the interview Jen gave the promised foods and supplies, she saw him flashed a smile.