A for improvement: A Xavier Ecoville Impact and Needs Assessment Study

“It is everyone’s hope that Xavier Ecoville becomes a “resilient, self-sustaining, productive, and pro-active community”.

For Xavier University there is always room for improvement when it comes to XE community. For the past four years they have been very responsive to Xavier Ecoville Community in terms of development. As noted, in response to the urgent need for the surviving families affected by Sendong last December 2011, they donated 5.2 hectare of land and there were about 500 families at present were given the chance to live a new life in the resettlement area in Lumbia.

However the need of a therapy after the resettlement pushed the University to do everything they can to let the people of XE live a better, safer and progressive life. This is where the rehabilitation programs were born, to help prepare XE community to become self-governing and self-reliant community.

The Xavier University Psychology Department conducted a study about the impact and needs assessment of Xavier Ecoville. Their focused is mainly into the three restoration programs that the community offered: 1.) values formation program for children 2.) Values formation program for youth 3.) Values formation program for household groups.

With the emphasis on the values formation program for children, there are areas of character building and values formation that different organizations worked together, with different psychological and psycho spiritual activities and programs for the purpose of preparing individual members live a new life in the community.

A qualitative research was designed in conducting the study. Researchers selected a total of 21 children aged 5 to 12 years old and 5 of their parents and guardian from Xavier Ecoville participated in the study. All of the kids were attendees of the XE kids’ session program.

To attain much more comprehensive data regarding the effectiveness of the Kids’ Session program the researchers included the perspective of the parents and that of the children in the form of focus group discussion (FGD). 2 separate FGD conducted, the first set was a mixture of children ages 6 to 12 years old and the other one with ages 5 to 6. The second session was with the parents and guardians. Children who joined the FGD were purposively selected. To further facilitate the effectiveness of the program, all sessions were taped recorded with the permission of the parents and transcribed verbatim.

Results

Analysis of the data gathered during the focus group discussion (FGD) with the parents and guardian likewise produced generally positive results with respect to the overall impact of the Kids session program.

The family particularly the parents are the most important partners to children’s development and participation. In the terms of behavioural dimension, the application learned values was explored in terms of what the children actually did at home, in school, and in the neighbourhood. One solid example, children had practiced respecting elders by not talking back. At home they expressed it by doing the household chores like cooking, sweeping, washing clothes and more. A strong family support is very much important to children as they mature and become adults. It may be a well-known saying but this could be closer to truth. Yes, I believe that our children are our future. Though the program kids’ session had a profound influence, there are also external influences from the community that are beyond the scope and control of the program.