This 2-year Recovery Programme for Children Drug Users project of Bidlisiw Foundation is a pilot to test a Community Based Recovery Programme for Children Drug Users and Surrenderees in Mandaue City. It responds to the strong campaign of the current Philippine administration against drug abuse and prevention, and the situation of the local government unit being continuously confronted with drug surrenderees among whom are children or individuals below 18 years of age. The project makes use of a community-based relapse prevention programme called AKAP Modelor Abot Kamay Alang’alang sa Pagbabagong Buhay Program, which was developed by another organisation. This model, however, was not tested on children drug users, thus Bidlisiw integrates modifications from its own experience in implementing the Child & Family Healing, Recovery and Reintegration (CFHRR) program. Aside from a session-based approach, the project also integrates the family development work – an existing approach used by Bidlisiw in its work with families of children in need of special protection. This method includes the development of family-based action plans, home visitations for follow-up and referrals to other agencies for access to basic services vital for their overall functioning as a family. Lessons from this project are expected to be shared with various stakeholders through round table discussions, paving the way to the formulation of new policies in Mandaue City.

Bidlisiw has proved to be a learning organisation that stays true to the nature of their Foundation: developing programmes and services that are tailor-fitted for children who are in need of special protection. Through their Innovate & Learn project which aimed to pilot test a community-based programme for children who use drugs and surrenderees, the following questions were addressed: 

1. Is the Combined AKAP–KKDK-Bidlisiw modules responsive to the needs of the children drug users/surrenderees? How/in what ways? 

1. What are the additional considerations in implementing the combined modules for children who are drug users? 

1. What are the guidelines for replication?
   

Based on the evaluation of the Volunteer facilitators and the Staff, the module is effective even to those children without drug history (only those who used cigarettes and drink alcoholic beverages), but it is more effective to those who have tried using illegal drugs. It is recommended that in future the use of the modules with children without drug related activities, should have them grouped together and not be mixed to those who used illegal drugs. The module is not effective when used with children who have severe cases of addiction.  

The following are the changes that have manifested throughout the project:  

• 6 (5 males, 1 female) Recovery Buddies (peers who have already finished the training) were deployed to the project and helped in the implementation of the activities. They have been inspiring the enrolled children to change and stop their use of illegal drugs. Aside from bringing inspiration, they also helped in influencing the barangay (town) officer members to eradicate or minimize stigma, shame, and discrimination in the community. Their testimonies helped in persuading them to support the implementation of Community Based Recovery Program for Children.   
• Families are now empowered. They are able to improve their confidence in accessing services from both government and non-government agencies such as medical, food, legal assistance, among others.   
• Families became supportive to the life and career plans of their children. They are also monitoring the school performances of their children which also motivate children to push themselves to study well. Parents also monitored the whereabouts of their children.   

• Families are able to resolve conflicts and issues on their own with minimal support/assistance from the project. Parents will only ask the help of the Child/Family Development Staff if they feel that they could no longer handle the issues.   
• Children learned to be trustful of sharing their activities. They openly disclosed to the staff and volunteers about their activities especially in relation to their drug use.   
• Children are able to define clear and concrete plans for their future. They have gained inspiration to dream and believe that those dreams are possible. They are hopeful that they will succeed with the help of their families and other people who believe in them.   
• One change that children manifested while attending the weekly sessions is that they could already utter and identify positive traits or behavior in themselves. They also practiced appreciating the goodness of their group mates and even developed friendships that they cherished.   
• Children also realised the importance of education. The children who are out of school also expressed their interest to enroll themselves to the Alternative Learning Sessions.    

• The relationship of children and families has gradually improved. Parents’ learning from attending Primary Caregivers Enhancement Training were applied and children’s positive behavior changes are the factors of the improvement of the relationship of the entire family.   
• Training was completed by 6 participants and 11 family members referred for job placement through Bidlisiw program on Enhancing Self Wage Employment Opportunities. The other 7 completers acquired jobs through their own initiatives.   
• Mandaue City through the its focal person supported the endeavor of the project by allocating budget for the implementation of Community Based Recovery Program for Children who Use Drugs /Surrenderees. They also entrusted Bidlisiw to train the remaining 16 barangays to become sensitive to the needs of children recovering from illegal drugs. 
  

The experience and learning of the project led to its replication in the Island of Camotes with another funder and later will also be replicated in the City of Lapulapu.