A Child's Trust Is Ours to Nurture - ACTION Inc.

ACTION (A Child's Trust Is Ours to Nurture) Incorporated is a non-stock, non-profit organization registered with the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission in March 2014, and with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in May 2015. It is an offshoot of NPO-ACTION established in 1994 by Mr. Hajime Yokota in Tokyo, Japan. Since NPO-ACTION’s founding, it initiated different programs and services to address the needs of impoverished children and families in communities around Olongapo City and Zambales. It started from organizing a Work Camp in the Philippines participated by young Japanese volunteers who helped in the reconstruction of residential facilities such as the Jireh Children’s Home in Castillejos, Zambales, and the Early Childhood Care and Development Center in Olongapo City together with Tayo Ang Tinig At Gaba Inc., a community-based NGO. The volunteers also helped in the renovation of building of International Children’s Advocate Inc. (Niños Pag-asa Center), a center for differently-abled children and the construction of water systems for Aeta communities in Zambales. To formalize this initiative, NPO-ACTION put up an International Understanding Program that has been organizing Study Tours bringing interested Japanese people to the Philippine to learn and help.

Through its programs and services, ACTION aims to uplift the quality of life of marginalized children & youth. ACTION’s main program, the CHIKARA Program provides opportunities for child development through its developmental trainings & activities. Children & youth from partner residential care facilities are enthusiastically engaged in activities where they can learn vocational skills which can benefit them later in life. Furthermore, the organization is also aware of the needs of parents to be empowered for them to provide well for their children’s needs. Therefore, ACTION organized a group of mothers and provided them livelihood training so they can acquire skills in creating handicraft products such as bags, wallets and other accessories and earn income. It also provides educational support and scholarships to deserving students from partner residential facilities. ACTION also provides psycho-social intervention in partner residential facilities to improve children’s coping behavior, while another project entitled Capacity Building Project for House Parents in Region 3 (undertaken with the DSWD and Japan International Cooperation Agency), aims to provide better parenting service to children in selected residential facilities in Central Luzon. All of these programs and services are undertaken by ACTION to address the needs of indigent families and communities after witnessing the inadequate support and assistance provided to children in impoverished communities and residential care facilities. ACTION continually works to address the situation by providing children opportunities for development & tapping into their inner potential thereby increasing their chances of fulfilling their aspiration.