The Provinces of Singapore/Malaysia, Indonesia, East Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar) and the Philippines will hold a Capacity Building and Training Workshop (CBTW) from February 12 to 17 at the Madonna Heights in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The workshop is a response to the conversations during the Asia Pacific Circle of Provincials held last year in Nepal that identified the need to strengthen collaboration among units to counter human trafficking and migration.
Sr. Joan Lopez, province leader of Singapore/Malaysia said that the workshop is being coordinated by Ms. Theresa Symons, executive Director of the Good Shepherd Welfare Services in Malaysia.
Each province will be represented by eight participants. Philippine representatives to the workshop are: Sr. Maureen Catabian, Sr. Bernadette Guzman, Sr. Alicia Andres, Sr. Diane Cabasagan, Sr. Virgo Espineda, Sr. Arabella Balingao, Sr. Antonietta Go and Sr. Cecilia Torres, province leader.
The workshop hopes to foster interprovince collaboration as a corporate body in responding to issues of human trafficking and migration.
Sr. Clare Nolan of the Province of New York and who is the Good Shepherd International Justice and Peace (GSIJP) training facilitator will be in Malaysia for the workshop. She will also visit the provinces before the Kuala Lumpur meeting.
Sr. Clare will visit the Philippines from February 1-5 and will meet with the eight participants from February 2-4 to help them prepare for the workshop in KL. During the visit, she will try to: 1) learn about the ministerial works of the province related to migration and trafficking; 2) meet with the directors and staff of the programs and discuss their vision, development, successes and difficulties; 3) listen to the areas of the projects that the province have plans for development, growth etc. and 4) experience a glimpse of local networking with Government, NGO’s and faith-based organizations on issues of migration and trafficking.
Sr. Maureen Catabian RGS, coordinator of WJPIC (Women, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) of the Philippine Province said, that the meeting is scheduled at the Rosary Hall of Good Shepherd Community in Quezon City. She added that the Philippine representatives who have direct involvement with care for trafficked persons, will give an overview of the Good Shepherd ministries in the province and the particular programs on Migration and Trafficking.
Directors of the following agencies will also share:
· SMEIDFI-COW (Cebu and QC)
· COW Davao
· Cebu Welcome House
· CDO Program on Prostituted Women
· Pagadian Shelter Program for Women
· TWMAEW
· Good Shepherd Home – Legazpi
· Program for Women/Migrants in Isabela
· Welcome House (Paco) Crisis Intervention Program
· St. Bridget’s College Community Center (SBCC)
The content and sharing will be about: -- Vision of the Program, Developments – How is the Vision translated concretely in programs, Successes/Best Practices and Difficulties/Problems encountered.
The participants will also hold an exposure to a Community of Migrants and GO, NGO Networks,(Culiat Muslim Community, TFUC-AMRSP, CFO, OWWA, PGH-CPU, Welcome House).
An important preparation that participants do is the reading of UDHR, CEDAW, CRC and Magna Carta Documents.
Sr. Clare’s visit to the Asian provinces will be: East Asia – Jan 25-27; Indonesia – January 30 – February 1, Philippines, February 2-4 and Singapore Malaysia February 9-11.