Research

This study, as indicated in the foregoing, is interested in exploring the response and experience of street children who were part of the theater project. It attempts to determine theater’s efficacy as an alternative strategy to help street children in their recovery and development. Theatrical intervention is seen here as a communicative strategy for personal and consequently, social development. It is premised on the belief that theater and performance is an empowering strategy for creative self-expression and a stronger connection to the self. In the process of establishing the efficacy of theater as an alternative strategy, this research also attempts to explore how theater and performance is used as a strategy for rehabilitation and recovery. This dissertation expands its exploration to determine how and to what extent theater as a strategy for rehabilitation and recovery can also empower street children to rise above their marginalized condition. This is the problem on which is centered my continuing quest to explore the potential of theater/performing arts beyond entertainment.

Marginalized children, such as street children and children in conflict with the law, are at high risk of encounters with torture and other forms of violence. These children are often on the move and their pathways thus consist of encounters with many different places. Concepts such as ‘places’ and ‘spaces’ are thus relevant to examine. The aim of this thesis project is to investigate ‘places’ and ‘spaces’ in the lives of marginalized children in the Philippines in order to analyze and discuss how different NGOs understand, experience, and utilize these concepts in their work with children being subjected to torture and other forms of violence.

This study evaluated Cracked Mirrors theater production for advocacy against child sexual abuse and exploitation. Through the literature review, the need for creative advocacy projects and the reasons to evaluate those projects are clearly presented. Also presented in the literature is the importance of changing the way society views and ignores the victims of sexual abuse. The Cracked Mirrors performance incorporates rap and song into a series of four monologues to express the painful realities of child sexual abuse and exploitation. This evaluation study utilized a survey questionnaire to randomly poll 446 audience members from nine showings in 5 separate venues within Manila, Philippines. Respondents represented various ages and countries but were not asked for any personal information

A Good Boy was formally launched September of 2005. It is the second animation by Stairway Foundation, and deals with the issue of Child Sexual Exploitation, in particular, Pedophilia. Although we can use the animation in any setting, the story being portrayed puts it in a position wherein it can be used effectively with children on the streets, as they can readily relate their situation with “Jayson” (the boy in the story). “Daughter”, which was created earlier (2004) deals primarily with the issue of Incest and is considered by many as a very powerful story. Childhope Asia Philippines, an NGO working with Street Children in Metro Manila and a partner of SFI is currently utilizing the animations for their street education program. Using their mobile education van, “A Good Boy” and “Daughter” is being shown to children on the streets.

For the next five years, SFI will be investing in program-based and organizational/structural goals that serve the overall purpose of expansion, enhanced organizational capacity, and focusing on prevalent concerns that directly affect children locally and internationally.

If gestures could produce voices, then the place aptly called “the contemplation room” where we had our CSAP session for 13 selected Deaf students from De La Salle College of Saint Benilde organized by the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies last March 12-13, would have been filled with audible laughter, debates and conversations. Yet, even with the absence of “sound”, it still felt that I can still understand what they were trying to convene thru the emotions they were projecting, while the interpreter transformed these messages into something more cognitive. For two days, it was like listening to the sounds of their souls.

Anna is just one of the several students that undergo CSAP sessions done by the local Social Welfare and Development office in Silang using Stairway's animations.  The said sessions started when several stakeholders from the municipality, including the local Social Welfare and Development office, the DepEd and the Police attended a CSAP training, wherein, they all agreed that this is something that should be actively advocated in the locality.

The international development sector of migration is not typically an arena where Stairway puts on its advocacy gloves. However, over recent years it has become apparent that the rights of the child in this sector have been increasingly neglected. The rights of the child within migration has therefore caught our attention as being an area where Stairway can both share experiences in abuse prevention training and play a part in influencing policy reform. By stroke of luck, two of the world’s key conferences on migration and human rights were being held in the Philippines this year providing Stairway with convenient access and ability to make its concerns heard and also to network amongst organizations with similar mandates. The International Conference on Gender, Migration and Development (ICGMD) and the Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD) Civil Society Days, held in September and October respectively, saw broad international representation and provided a chance to give voice to the children affected by the Philippines’ high rates of internal and external migration.