25 youth offenders at RRYC get TESDA certificate for cooking

CEBU CITY-- Twenty-five youth offenders residing at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) got national certificates for cooking after they completed a 40-day training conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Region 7 from January 15 to April 30, this year.

"Our hearts are full to see these children express gratitude for having this training and receiving their respective certificates. They are determined to complete it because they want to remove the stigma that there is no hope for them," Center Head Aileen Cuevas said, in her opening statement during the graduation ceremony on April 30 at the RRYC covered court.

Cuevas said, RRCY introduces these skills development programs to help residents acquire knowledge, skills, and values-based competencies during rehabilitation and prepare them for reintegration. RRYC is a Level III Center and Residential Care Facility and operated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Field office VII.

The RRYC located in Barangay Candabong, Argao, Cebu caters to juvenile delinquents from towns and cities that could no longer e accommodated in their own rehabilitation centers for children in conflict with the law (CICLs).

These youth offenders at the RRYC are children with cases filed before the court for committing a crime when they were below 18 years old. Instead of a sentence, the court ordered their cases to be suspended and go through rehabilitation in a residential facility such as RRCY or those that are established by the local government units in Cebu.

Training while inside the facility.

In partnership with TESDA-7, the cookery training includes a series of demonstrations and applications of learning on how to prepare healthy and nutritious recipes, dessert preparations, choosing the right ingredients, and proper use of kitchen utensils, Cuevas added.

Part of the rehabilitation services of the center are programs such as skills development along with home life services, socialization, productivity, spiritual, and education, among others, to restore their social functioning.

"Some residents have limited access to education because of their early exposure to life’s circumstances that brought them to the center. We want them to undergo this training because we want them to be equipped before they return to their communities,” Cuevas explained.

Cuevas believes that the training is essential for diverting their attention from being bored with routine activities inside the center that might lead to absconding.  As they leave the facility, the management of RRCY hopes that these valuable training sessions will help them chart their life anew.

Alias John cooks for a 'renewed life'

Using the training he got at the RRYC, Alias John, 19, received his certificate with excitement and proudly shared and promised that once released, he would find a job to open a small food business for himself and his 5-year-old son.

“Dako kaayo ni og tabang. Bentaha kung naa mi certificate kung mo-apply mi og trabaho pohon, kay maka-apply dayon mi. Dili mi mahadlok nga adunay diskriminasyon nga gikan mi og rehabilitation,” John said. (This training is of great value especially when we apply for a job later when we’re out of here. This gives us self confidence and somehow free us from discrimination that we are offenders.)

In 2022, the court charged John with drug use and possession. He was detained in a prison facility in the City of Naga, Cebu with adult detainees, but eventually transferred to RRCY in October 2023.

Since then, John hopes for the dismissal of his case so he can go back to his life with his siblings and mother, who has cancer, whom he plans to take care of.  While waiting for that to happen, John enjoys the company of his fellow CICLs inside RRYC and the many activities that keep them hopeful.

John prepared a hot meal dish as his output during one of their sessions. He is currently tasked as an overall team coordinator that oversees other residents in their assigned daily chores at the RRYC.

John recognized that cooking is a way of life. He wanted to learn cooking so he can help in the kitchen activities inside the center. “Abi nako wala ra to ang ilang gi-ingon nga mo-eskwela mi sa TESDA kay akong huna-huna, dili man posible tungod kay anaa man mi sulod sa RRCY,” but he was surprised that they started the training sessions where he got excited with every new lesson learned.

The cookery training is just one of the many he got from TESDA while rehabilitating at the center. He said there is also training on welding, fabrication, and woodworks.  Alias John said completing his training marked a significant step forward in his life. He hopes for a new normal life with his family when he returns to them. (Photos: RRYC/DSWD7@Kerwin Marcopia)