Cecil Oebanda with young women of the Matigsalug Indigenous Peoples Tribe in Mindanao who were recipients of Educational Assistance from VF and its partners, including Bicycles from 88 Bikes, in 2013 . Over 30 young indigenous girls were beneficiaries of the Project
DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 30 -– Around 150 girls from Negros Oriental have been identified to receive individual bicycles from 88bikes.org, an international movement working with local partners in different countries to campaign against modern day slavery.
The 88bikes.org Bike Endowment and Bike Advocacy Ride in Dumaguete City in November will be spearheaded by the Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc. in cooperation with the Gender Watch Against Violence and Exploitation (GWAVE) and the Department of Education, among others.
Romualdo Señeris II, regional coordinator of the Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc. in Central Visayas, disclosed that the 88bikes Foundation “endows bicycles to girls throughout the world, especially the heroic survivors of human trafficking”.
“The highlight of each endowment is the Moment of Happy, when every girl at the shelter receives her new bike”, he added.
Visayan Forum has been a partner of 88bikes Foundation in the Philippines and its Regional Field Projects.
Last 2013, 88bikes was able to endow 78 bikes to the survivors of human trafficking and possible vulnerable victims of human trafficking and child labor in Negros Oriental, according to Señeris.
This year, Visayan Forum–Dumaguete has identified 150 beneficiaries for the 88bikes Foundation endowment project and will possibly hold an Advocacy Bike Ride for the 88bikes, iFight Movement and National Bicycling Month Observance 2014.
Only a few of the beneficiaries are victims of human trafficking, Señeris said. However, many of them are “possible vulnerable victims of human trafficking and child labor and other gender-related issues”, he added.
Those from Negros Oriental to receive the bikes are mostly students from public schools whose houses are within biking distance of the school, he said.
Most of the beneficiaries come from Dumaguete, Sibulan, Bacong, Dauin, Valencia, Zamboangita, Sta. Catalina and Guihulngan.
Señeris explained the project is “more on the prevention side of our fight”, referring to the Visayan Forum’s principal agenda of fighting trafficking in persons.
88bikes.org co-founder Dan Austin will be in Dumaguete to distribute the bikes, purchased from a local supplier, during the two-day activity scheduled November 7 and 8.
A Bike Advocacy Ride is also scheduled on the second day of the Bike Endowment program with the public being encouraged to participate. (PNA)
LAP/JFP
This Article was written by Judy Partlow, and posted on http://balita.ph/2014/10/31/bicycles-to-be-distributed-as-part-of-advocacy-against-modern-day-slavery/
and at http://www.visayandailystar.com/2014/October/31/negor3.htm