Rummaging through old things, we stumbled upon a DVD tucked in a plastic sleeve. It looked like one of those homemade DVDs, copied from a PC, with a special white paper label made specifically for DVDs stuck on it. The top of the disc showed the typed words “Stairway Foundation Inc.,” and at the bottom of the disc were two titles: “En lille Blyant” (The Pencil) and “The Girls from the Island” in black Arial font.
A blast from the past
Wow, what a blast from the past! The DVD, more than twenty years old, held two fascinating stories: one about children’s creativity and another that was still a secret. Feeling intrigued, we took the DVD out of its sleeve, washed it with soap and water, and borrowed a DVD player. However, excitement turned to frustration when we realized the player’s wiring didn’t match ours for a modern flat-screen TV. Anticipation built as we decided we had to wait until we returned to the Philippines, where I could use my old desktop PC with its built-in DVD player to watch it.
A Story Captured in Time
Back home in the Philippines, we put the disc into the DVD tray and pressed Enter, eager to finally see what was inside. Suddenly, as we watched, we were taken back to 2006, before there were concrete buildings and neat stone steps. In this Stairway of Memory, coconut trees and bamboo groves shaped the landscape and provided materials for almost every structure. The film opened on a sunny beach, with an empty volleyball net strung between bamboo poles.
Soon, the scene shifted to the Stairway, where the camera looked up at a coconut tree, its green fronds waving against a bright blue sky, sunlight filtering through. Children’s laughter could be heard, followed by the soft thud of a falling coconut. The camera moves to Stairway’s calm, natural stage, blending into its surroundings. Partially enclosed walls frame the space, with one solid cement wall adorned with a colorful mural of rainbows and nature that celebrates a child’s right to rest, play, and recreation. To the right, a wide open side is the main gathering place. Inside, a circle of young girls sits, listening closely as Stairway’s social worker, Ate Lani, gives a Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Workshop.
Animation advocacy
Back then, we used hand-painted flipcharts for our advocacy, each weighing nearly 3 kg. Every page was drawn by hand, telling stories, explaining concepts, and helping children talk about safety and rights. Facilitators turned each page slowly, letting the pictures speak where words fell short. These flip charts were more than just teaching tools–they went with us everywhere, even into classrooms and communities where sexual abuse was rarely discussed.
From Linen to e-learning
Over the years, that same advocacy began to transform. What started as paint on linen grew into animation, giving stories movement and providing a non-threatening and invaluable tool for children and young people to open up and to discuss the issue of sexual abuse. Today, it continues in a new form: e-learning. The messages remain the same, but the reach has grown. What once required physically carrying heavy materials from one community to another can now travel across islands, across countries, and into the hands of learners anytime, anywhere. Through digital platforms, interactive modules, and stories brought to life on screen, children, parents, and educators can engage with these lessons in ways we could only imagine before.