Bahay Pag-Asa Youth Center

BAHAY PAG-ASA MISSION STATEMENT

The University of St. La Salle (USLS), inspired by the work of it’s Founder, St. John Baptiste de la Salle, commits to respond to the growing needs of a special group of children and youth, the Children-In-Contact with the Law (CICL), in the Provinces of Negros Occidental and Guimaras, through the establishment the USLS - Bahay Pag-asa Youth Center (USLS-BPYC). 

“In collaboration and partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Local Government Units (LGUs), the Provincial Government and other government organization (GO), non-government organizations (NGOs), volunteer individuals and groups, the USLS- Bahay Pag-asa Youth Center (USLS-BPYC) aimed to promote quality education through intervention, diversion and rehabilitation programs and services that seeks to address the best interest, welfare and development of the children and youth at risks, forming them into becoming a self-reliant, productive and God-fearing individuals, upon reintegration with their families and in the community.

” Inspired by the Charism of the Founder, St. John Baptiste de la Salle, and animated by Christian values, the University seeks to help our people, especially the poor, live a life of dignity to the fullest of their capabilities. As a catalyst for change, it commits itself to install concern for the environment, community and country. All these, in the Lasallian spirit of faith and zeal: to do everything for God and to attribute all to God.
 

INSTITUTIONAL MISSION STATEMENT

The University of St. La Salle is a Catholic institution committed to the holistic formation of the youth.
It promotes quality of education responsive to the global realities and to the call of the Church for evangelization. It aims to foster a culture of openness and dialogue in all sectors of the Lasallian Family. Inspired by the Charism of the Founder, St. John Baptiste de la Salle, and animated by Christian values, the University seeks to help our people, especially the poor, live a life of dignity to the fullest of their capabilities. As a catalyst for change, it commits itself to install concern for the environment, community and country.

All these, in the Lasallian spirit of faith and zeal: to do everything for God and to attribute all to God.
 

Three Main Challenges facing the Project:

1. Cost of Operations
2. Difficulty of putting altogether, the documents for accreditation certificate with the DSWD as well as the local government of each resident’s place of origin. Factors affecting this issue is the attachment of the Center’s compliance of other non-negotiable document/s (e.g. fire safety certificate) with the whole university which more often could not synchronize with the others.
3. Development of Operations Manual and the Child Protection Policies of the Center.
    

Peer Enrichment Program

The Residents who are already more or less proficient in different skills in basic literacy as well as in dance and music are tasked to teach the others, especially the new ones with their own areas of proficiency. Spiritual Formation

• Last December, the Residents had Advent liturgy
• Para-liturgical, Friday Faith Sharing and scheduled Eucharistic celebrations are on-going
   

Livelihood Skills and Program Initiatives

The center is seriously working towards integrated farming. It is hoped that such structure of farming would be in place and full implementation by June. It is also the aim of the program that the skills learned by the Residents in their active participation in the management and development of the programs be applied in their own family life context. Reach-Out Activity

Last December, the Residents had their Caroling and Christmas reach-out at

• The Handumanan City Jail – Women’s Facility
• The Social Development Center (Center for Street Children)
• The Girls’ Home and The Provincial Jail
   

Christmas Family Day

Last December 27, 2007, the Residents had a special day with their families at the Grade School Quadrangle of the University of St. La Salle. Out of the twenty three residents, only one had no family present during the celebration.