Dire Husi Artreach

At the start of summer break 2018, Dire Husi lead by Ms. Sharon Mae Casiño spearheaded an art workshop for kids whose parents are member of Tingog sa Kasanag (TISAKA) an organization that focuses on women and children who are survivors or at risk of prostitution, trafficking, and abuse. 51 kids joined the art workshop which is also a creative psycho social intervention that helps the kids empower themselves through values formation and creativity. The program which is held every Saturday for two months have taught kids basic drawing and they have sessions where everybody shares their story. It is a refreshing activity where kids have time to be themselves and hear positive coaching’s; kids were being shared bible stories at the same time proper manners and they were given ample time to draw.

The experience taught me that booming urbanized areas like Cagayan de Oro have a lot of marginalized sectors that needs intervention and the most affected and needs help are the children. These next generation bearers needs to be reminded that they need to dream more and hope more, if these dreams and hope are being taken away from them then the next generation will degenerate. Art as a tool for outreach hopes that slowly we can create impacts to these children the right values and the desire for them to be creative. The culmination activity of the program was giving of school bags and school supplies.

A small program was held last June 2, 2018 at TISAKA office where the Dhassig band, an ethno fusion music band based in Cagayan de Oro plays some music. The kids and parents were happy for the small blessings that they received and also Dire would like to thank friends who in one way or another created impact to these children and made this activity happen. This is a collective effort and the organization is so thankful  for the people who helped; Sen. Grace Poe, FPJ Films and Ms. Melagne Dianga for sending school bags, Bishop Bing Raterta Gadian and Bishop John Dagante for giving new testament bibles, Ma’am Tita  Famas for providing school supplies, Ms. Patrizia Sun and family and Mr. Steve Go for providing snacks for the last 2months of arts workshop, Ms. Goldy Go, Ms. Gigi Llusala and Ms. Dawn Angelie S. Guiñares, Mr. Rolen Regor Enriquez for helping volunteer and teach for the last 2months, Mr. Demver Morales and family  for helping provide snacks during the culmination activity, Dhassig Band for sharing music to the kids, Ms. Ila Legaspi Paclibar for sharing her life story during the culmination, Ms. Shamae Casiño for organizing the activity, Ms. Eleony Monding Chairperson of TISAKA for facilitating the activity, Mr. Almar Nercuit and Edgar Dagumo Cacho for supporting the project. May our Lord Jesus Christ Bless you more abundantly.

(The author is a member of the Rotary Club of West Cagayan de Oro and Chairman of Dire Husi Initiatives, Inc. awardee of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organization or TAYO. For comments please email at direhusi.rhyan@gmail.com)