“Masaya kami dahil natuto kaming magsulat”, 38-year old Happia blurted shyly after showing her notebook with sketches of her basic writing skill.

Happia is just one of the 30 Samah and Badjao women who attended the mini-workshop on basic writing  last Sunday (April 5).

The workshop was for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) temporarily housed  at the Zamboanga EastWest Central School evacuation center  who were victims of the Zamboanga crisis in September last year.

Lani Espiritusanto, Camp Manager said that most of the IDPs who are Badjaos and Samals from Rio Hondo and Mariki expressed their interest to learn how to write especially their names.

Seeing the need and interest of these women, the team conducted the session last Sunday-April 5, right at the office of the Camp at the said school.

Notebooks and pencils were provided to the mostly-women participants.

Aljimar Amil, a volunteer who also assisted in the conduct of the workshop said that they received good feedback as more and more participants continue to arrive obviously interested.

“We find it beneficial not only for the IDPs but also for the agencies and humanitarian groups assisting them because we can ensure that the persons receiving the aid are the right people as thumbmarks can easily be duplicated” Amil said.

According to the team, there were instances where actual recipients complained to them of goods and services being claimed by unknown individuals who have posed or forged their thumbmarks.

Most of the unschooled IDPs would set their thumbmarks instead of their actual signatures  as they do not know how to put in writing their names.

Aya Dari, a housewife with 6 children in shares that she practice name writing everyday.  “Pagkatapos ko maglaba, nagprapraktis na akong magsulat at pasalamat ako na naturuan kami ng mga taga DSWD.”  Aya said.

The women revealed that next to writing, they also would want to learn simple math-solving process and also learning the alphabet.

Both women are looking forward to the follow-up session this Sunday where their homework will be asessed by the camp management team.###