By: Macaraig, Janessa Xylene C.
A heart that belongs to the community is now a heart that concerns human rights. From a mere perspective of extending hands and providing activities, to a deeper understanding of the crucial role of prioritizing the people and delivering long-term solutions. As a development communication student practitioner and now a Development Communications and Advocacies intern. HLAF, look what you did to me…
Having the fact that On-the-Job Training was still under the academic field and requirements, I believe it is quite easy, full of assistance and spoon-feeding experience that will allow us to just see how the work environment runs. This internship journey is not something I am looking forward to acquiring. Just like anyone else, I’ll do well as part of compliance but not as an opportunity to hone my skills and knowledge as a future worker. This journey of mine with HLAF exceeds all expectations and draws a standard of how I should work as a DevCom practitioner.
As someone who finds herself enjoying the duties of community work, assessing the needs of the people, establishing networks with different groups, and spearheading events, I always knew that I’d work with government and/or Non-Government Organizations that have duties of humanities and social communications. With a simple yet genuine reason, I had a sense of fulfillment whenever I worked with related responsibilities. But beyond this emotional cause, I have not been able to dig a wider perspective of its social grounds. This has been the greatest contribution of HLAF to my growth and motivation which strengthened my inner purpose in the development work.
As a DevCom student, we are exposed to social issues as we try to alleviate poverty in all forms through effective and proper utilization of communication. Despite the aim of reducing the problems and challenges in the community, we are not very exposed to the rights and protection a human being must have access to. Firstly, the Task Force Katarungan at Kalayaan (TFKK) discussion at Malabon City Regional Trial Court, was the first activity I attended that surprised me with tons of new learnings. There, I witnessed the importance of gathering all the stakeholders to establish a more convenient, precise, and effective discussion and sharing of comments and suggestions that will improve the status of all plans. More this, I found out about one of HLAF’s efforts to help and stay true to their mission when I learned about the Focused Reintegration of Ex Detainee (FRED) program; a program that anchors the welfare of the Persons Restored with Liberty (PRL) as they provide ways on how these people can be rehabilitated at the community after jail releases. It was my first time hearing this kind of strive and it was the starting point of how my care for human rights came into existence. Another event that escalated my interest in human rights was when I attended the 4th Philippine Human Rights Planning. Surrounded by various officers, advocates, and volunteers united with one goal — to champion the human rights of each vulnerable sector and amplify their voices by representing them in the platforms that higher-ups can hear.
Being exposed to various seminars, discussions, campaigns, and planning that unearth the importance of human rights has been my eye-opener to the truth behind media representation. As a Communications and Advocacy intern, I was able to work with different fields that are not limited to writing and speaking skills. Aside from learning the professional structure of communications documents such as activity reports, presentations, communications plans, articles, compelling stories, and hope-based outputs, I also familiarize myself with how networking works as it is one of the major components for an organization to continuously progress. We spearheaded an event that allows PDLs and their children to reunite with ample amount of time and impart a positive outlook to their situations. Moreover, we also proposed activities that would advocate the rights, welfare, and well-being of the PRLs and crafted a concept note about this. We also facilitated the shooting, transcribing, and editing of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) videos of the organization which is an educational effort that they would produce to share knowledge, experiences, and expertise with other professionals. With about one and a half months of stay with them, I was able to unravel more of my skills, discover abundant information, and found my interest in advocating human rights.
With all honesty, each event, project, and activity I participated in has left an impact, maybe because I saw the purpose and drive of them all to provide change and hope to the vulnerable. But to share my top 3 memorable experiences, the first on my list is the first event I attended. TFKK amazes me in so many ways. It brought light to a dim knowledge of how a law can be a lobby and be an ordinance in a city. I saw the eagerness and passion of each shower to one project just to give a chance and hope to those who need it. Next is the activity that my co-intern and I proposed. Because of the previous events we’ve attended, we were able to create an activity proposal that empowers the goal of reintegrating the PRLs by honing and preparing them with the necessary skills they need to be reintegrated into the workforce. ‘Good Job, PRLs!’ is one of the fruits of all the learned information and a representation of me putting effort to help advocate human rights. Lastly, the event we spearheaded at Quezon City Jail Female Dormitory entitled ‘Stella’. Through this event, I have corrected the stigma that the media points out in the jail situation. With firsthand experience, I learned different stories, reasons, and hopes of the incarcerated mothers and how they’ve been just victims of life’s circumstances. As the mother PDLs and their children spent time with one another, I felt a touch in my heart as I realized that hope-based should not just end in dialogues but should be put into action.
This journey allows me to grow, especially in the work setting. I’ve risked a lot just to be here and it’s a worth risking experience. ‘Hindi PDL pero salamat HLAF sa pagpapalaya sa akin’. It was a great release from a work with unknown causes. HLAF transformed me into a better Development Communication student practitioner and a future Development Worker. Isa akong PRL mula sa HLAF. Sa wakas, malaya na…
