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Valderrama: Children-at-risk to children-of-hope Posted: 13 Mar 2022 06:02 AM PDT WHO would have the heart to help children trapped in a cycle of poverty characterized by a dehumanizing environment, dysfunctional relationship, unbridled life, and a survival mindset? Majority would easily say "Me!" but only a few will remain consistently and personally involved.One of the few is Br. Noelvic H. Deloria, the appointed president of Holy Cross of Davao College since June 2020, who is a true educator as he helps children weave their hopes and dreams in life.Even before he embraced the responsibility of running this archdiocesan college, he had spent his time helping the children in Iconhome in Bogo City, Cebu. Iconhome is an abbreviation of the slogan "I contribute home" for the poor and homeless children. It is a residential project of Iconhope Foundation, Inc. where they build a community for the children-at-risk. They are given the proper care through appropriate programs, activities, and processes so that they will be assisted in their growth and development towards becoming good citizens, responsible leaders, believers and promoters of God's love.Br. Noelvic, being a novice in 1983, already learned that taking care of young people in need has always been central to the Brothers of the Sacred Heart ministry. Since then, as a brother, he has always been involved in formal education but he has always considered the marginalized – the street children and the vagabonds.In pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy in Organization Development and Planning at Southeast Asia Interdisciplinary Development Institute, he focused his dissertation on the lived experiences and transformation of the Iconhome children. He has successfully presented and defended the research.What is great about his study is affirming the positive outcomes of guiding children who would have lost their dreams and aspirations if left unloved, uncared for, and unattended. From the narratives of the children, their transformational journey from being a child-at-risk to becoming a child-of-hope has become evident. The children-at-risk coming to Iconhome carry burdens, pains, sufferings, and woundedness and Iconhome provides what they needed most - a safe and secure environment, formative and supportive relationships, shepherded life, and a growth mindset.These children, by the way, were brought by their mothers, the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity, a priest, and referred by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Most of them were living in dire poverty, a dysfunctional family relationship, or experienced domestic violence, and dangerous and inhuman environment.Some of them were not interested in schooling. But after interventions were given to these children, they developed the desire for continuing education. And so, they were enrolled in a nearby public school where teachers deliver the modules in Iconhome.New attitudes and behaviors are not just introduced but required to continue staying at Iconhome. The children have looked up to the elders in Iconhome as vanguards of safety and security and models of moral and behavioral development. The elders have provided the children clear directions on what to do, to chart their ways of doing, and form their moral values and judgments.One of the goals of Iconhome is to transform these children-at-risk to become icons of hope as positive contributors to society. They are taught to serve, to help, to care, to be kind and generous, and to share. They are formed to develop prosocial behavior. These are just some of the findings of the comprehensive research of Br. Noelvic.If only every adult will teach children to form prosocial behaviors, every child who'll later turn into an adult will appreciate life more. Appreciation always brings abundance in life.

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