By The SUN
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| On first day of the training, participants were asked to share their experiences looking after PWDs |
A training program on caring for persons with disabilities which started with only a group of Filipino domestic workers as participants, will be extended to helpers from other nationalities starting next year, the woman behind the project said.
Rodelia Pedro Villar, founder of Domestic Workers
Corner and fellow of Resolve Foundation under whose guidance she has undertaken
the project, said she wants all FDWs to train regardless of nationalities, as
they all face the same challenges when caring for PWDs.
“The program came to mind because there have been many
cases in DWC about foreign workers being lost as to what to do, how to care and
where to ask for guidance in caring for a person with disability or special
needs. This predicament usually ends up with the worker terminating her
contract,” Villar said.
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She said the training will
educate FDHs on how to build rapport with PWDs and their employers, and develop
the workers’ relationship with their employers and their families.
“I am confident that with this
training, our participants will also gain wisdom and patience. Our FDWs are
already in a stressful situation due to being away from home, and other
personal stuff adding weight to the problem is the Covid pandemic,” she said.
Villar’s resolve to expand the training sessions was
reinforced after seeing the enthusiasm of the participants in the first workshops
she organized on Nov 7 and Nov 14 which were held at the Philippine Overseas Labor
Office on 29/F, United Centre, Admiralty.
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The training was conducted in cooperation with POLO
Hong Kong which provided the venue, Resolve Foundation which provided funding, and
Nesbitt Centre, which provided resource speaker, Nerissa Corsame Valido.
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| The trainees with Villar (in pink) and Labatt Dizon, ALA Sunga (in green) |
“I was overwhelmed with awe when I heard the personal
stories and experiences of migrant domestic workers who are tasked to care for
someone with a disability. What they are doing are true acts of heroism,”
Villar said.
She was referring to stories shared by the
participants on the first day of the training that focused on how to care for
PWDs and persons with special needs.
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Villar said, “I can only express my utmost gratitude
to Resolve Foundation for the opportunity fund and Nesbitt Centre for
supporting the project and making it a reality.”
The first to undergo the four-month training comprising eight sessions were 20 Filipino domestic workers. In April next year, the program will have Indonesian FDHs.
Due to the number of participants in the initial
class, Villar plans to extend the program to other FDHs as well.
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“The thought of having different nationalities in the program excites me, but I have to overcome the language barrier between me and each participant,” Villar said.
She said she speaks just Tagalog
and English, but will find ways to connect with Pakistanis, Indonesians,
Bangladeshis, Cambodians, Indians, Nepalese, Sri Lankans, Thais and all her other
fellow FDHs.
Villar said she has been working
on this project for some time and, being a part of the Resolve Leadership
Training has encouraged her to put ideas into action.
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She believes she has a
responsibility to provide her fellow workers with the knowledge and skills on
how to care for PWDs and persons with special needs.
“They will be able to stay with
their employers and the persons that they’re caring for will also feel
respected and cherished,” she said.
The training provided by Valida included an introduction
to disabilities, practical tips on how to communicate with PWDs, and how to
handle tantrums.
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Other topics included a discussion on self-care for those
caring for disabled persons, a lecture on the Disability Discrimination
Ordinance, use of sign language, providing first aid and CPR training, as well
as rights of FDWs under the law.
Guest speaker, Labor Attaché Melchor Dizon,
encouraged FDHs to join trainings such as this and to check the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration’s Facebook page for trainings to upgrade skills
and knowledge so they won’t be domestic helpers forever.
Assistant Labor Attaché Angelica Sunga expressed her appreciation
for the workers’ dedication to their jobs, knowing how hard it is to handle PWDs.
“May this training give you inspiration in future as
you have a certificate that you can use even when you are in the
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| In part 2, the participants were taught yoga as a way of relaxation |
Part 2 of the training on Nov 14 was titled “Self
Care. It taught participants how to look after themselves, even as they are kept
busy caring for their wards and their employers’ families.
During this session, participants were introduced to Yoga
Nidra by Myriam Bartu, who told them that it is an excellent tool for
beginners to calm their minds and ease tensions that they can do in their
workplaces.
Bartu, a certified instructor and meditation teacher, was
Villar’s mentor at Resolve.
The trainees were also introduced to outdoor exercises to help them discover their
strengths and weaknesses, and to scribble games which allow them to freely
express themselves through paper and pens.
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