Who We Are

It all started in 1994, when the then 17-year-old Japanese, Hajime Yokota traveled to Zambales, a province greatly affected during the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. He witnessed the need for rehabilitation of families and communities, especially the children.

Moved by this experience, Hajime organized Work Camps participated by young Japanese volunteers to help in the reconstruction efforts at that time. With his passion and desire to help, Hajime established the non-profit organization ACTION in Tokyo, Japan in 1994.

NPO-ACTION was mainly an organizer of work camps in various facilities and communities in Zambales. Hajime was able to mobilize Japanese people to help in the physical improvement of residential facilities and communities in the area.

MILESTONES FOR WORK CAMPS/INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING PROGRAM

Some of Work Camps’ earlier projects include the reconstruction of Jireh Children’s Home in Castillejos, Zambales, construction of water systems for Aeta communities, renovation of a building in the International Children’s Advocate, Inc. (Niños Pag-Asa Center), and construction of early childhood care and development centers in Olongapo City in partnership with Tayo ang Tinig at Gabay Inc. (TATAG Inc.)

Work Camps became a regular project, together with Study Tour, under the International Understanding Program where Japanese people understand the social realities in the Philippines.

MILESTONES FOR LIVELIHOOD FOR MOTHERS

The year 2000 marked the expansion of NPO-ACTION’s program in Japan and assistance to its partners in the Olongapo- Zambales area.

NPO-ACTION established its own charity shop called Sari-Sari in Japan, with its earning directly supporting the organization’s work in the Philippines.

In 2009, ACTION opened its doors to mothers from local communities through a livelihood project. These mothers create unique handicrafts that are being sold in Japan and the Philippines under the trademark, ECOMISMO.

The project also tied partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry. This partnership paved the way for business sustainability and product improvements.

MILESTONES FOR CHIKARA PROGRAM

ACTION’s direct services to children all started with just provision of educational materials and facilitation of children’s activities on some residential facilities and impoverished communities in Zambales.

These later developed into a scholarship project called Growing People’s Will (GPW) which provides educational assistance to students from impoverished communities.

ACTION also started providing psycho-social intervention to partner residential care facilities for children to improve their coping.

These two projects were further incorporated into a larger set of activities, the CHIKARA Program. Launched in 2013, the program also provides activities that developmental activities for children.

Aside from GPW Educational Assistance and Psycho-social Intervention, Karate No Chikara, Dance No Chikara, Iyashi (Therapy) No Chikara, and Hasami (Scissors) No Chikara are also being provided under this program.

ACTION, in partnership with Rejob, extends its Iyashi (Therapy) No Chikara project in Manila in 2016.

The program was able to produce notable achievements like scholars who graduated with honors, a Karate Instructor, and massage therapists.

The program continues to upgrade as it currently added the Adolescent Reproductive Health Training and Child Protection Sessions among the activities being conducted. These two initiatives are implemented in Olongapo, Zambales, and Bataan in partnership with the Consuelo Foundation.

MILESTONES FOR CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT

With the vision of creating a suitable environment for children, where they can achieve their goals and maximize their potential, ACTION, together with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 3 (DSWD FO3), launched a three-year project dubbed as Capacity Building Project for House Parents in Region 3.

This project was initiated through the passage of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office III Regional Administrative Order No. 148 which mandated the establishment of a model training system for social workers and house parents that provides better parenting services to children in select residential care facilities in Central Luzon

With the evident success of this project, ACTION together with the DSWD and JICA once again launched a Capacity Building project in Region 3 and NCR, dubbed as “Ensuring Children’s Potential for Development and Independence Through Improved Residential Care Practices”

The project adopted the established model training system for social workers and house parents in 2016, from Region III for the National Capital Region. Through this project, the team also developed Life Skills Intervention for Children in Region 3. Notable achievements for this project are the publication of Life Skills Intervention Modules for Children and Enhanced Training Manual on Houseparenting.  This project also led ACTION to one of its biggest milestones to date, the institutionalization of the Training on Houseparenting as a National Training Program through the DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 14 series 2019.

MILESTONES FOR ACTION ADMIN AND OPERATIONS

As these different pursuits of ACTION in the Philippines continued to build lives, relationships and awareness with people, uniting different cultures towards realizing children’s rights and welfare, the organization is also gradually building itself as a prime mover in the field of social welfare.

The organization was officially registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (PSEC) as a non-stock and non-profit organization in 2014.

A year after, the organization was registered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, through Field Office 3 as ACTION (A Child’s Trust is Ours to Nurture) Incorporated, as an auxiliary social welfare and development agency and expanded its operation in the National Capital Region in 2016.

In 2018, ACTION shifted from being an auxiliary organization to a community-based social welfare and development agency. In the same year, ACTION earned its certificate of accreditation from the DSWD.

In the same year, ACTION was accredited by the Philippine Council for NGO Certification and recognized by the Bureau of Internal Revenue as a “donee institution.”

ACTION is also a proud member of the Olongapo City Local Development Council. ACTION also renewed its accreditation by the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Olongapo in 2019.

With its pursuits and accomplishments, ACTION was awarded as the 2019 BEST COMMUNITY-BASED SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY in CENTRAL LUZON by the DSWD.

VISION

A world where children fully achieve their rights and ACTION is a prime mover in the creation of child-friendly society.

MISSION

Enabling communities and stakeholders to realize child’s rights and achieve a better quality of life.

STRATEGIC GOALS

Communities, residential care facilities and other stakeholders in Region 3 and NCR are responsive to children’s needs and welfare

Strengthened alliances with stakeholders and partners for child welfare

ACTION as a competently managed organization

ACTION as a financially stable organization

CORE VALUES

Rights and responsibilities of children

Unity

Trust

Environment-friendly

Internationalism

The new logo embodies how ACTION works for the welfare of children. The image of 3 persons with hands held high symbolizes 3 stakeholders working hand in hand in improving children’s lives.

The orange person symbolizes ACTION, the yellow person represents partners and donors, and the blue person symbolizes the children. The exclamation point represents the impact made by the projects managed through collaborative efforts of all stakeholders in improving the lives of the children, helping them reach their full potential.