A mother鈥檚 love is a color that never fades and a shade that never changes. However, some inevitably suffer the loss of their color due to forces beyond their control.
Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) face consequences limiting their communication and relationship with their families. For this reason, Stella, a coloring book project, aims to strengthen the bond and relationship of a detained mother and her child through storytelling, coloring, and writing activities.
The book was launched by the non-government organization (HLAF). Written and illustrated by Rica Odron and Miles Louise Angelo, the book tells the story of a mother who went missing and later found her way back home.
For HLAF advocacy officer Melvin Nu帽ez, the Stella project is the 鈥渂right side鈥 that supports every PDL mom鈥檚 journey toward regaining themselves and returning to the arms of their loved ones.
He shared that the pain of a mother who left her children at a young age and then saw them again only when they got older is one of the reasons for the project.
鈥淪ome of them are only accused, and some would be acquitted after years, and that鈥檚 the only time they will be able to reunite with their children鈥 They were not able to see the development or the growth of their child,鈥 he said.
The project came into life with the idea of extending the bonding time between the PDLs and their children because the visitation hours only last 10 to 20 minutes.
鈥淯sually the problem there is that when [families] visit, they just eat and talk. They don鈥檛 have the time to bond鈥 So [Stella] started only with an idea to support the bond of the mother and her child through a coloring book,鈥 Nu帽ez said.
鈥淭hat is an addition to the time they get to spend with their families, which they do not usually get to do during visitations,鈥 he added.
The Stella project lasts two to three hours, giving PDLs enough time to bond and reconnect with their families through activities such as playing parlor games and eating a meal together.
鈥淲e really made it possible because [we see] children who long for the presence of their mothers, especially our participants who are usually younger than 12 years old,鈥 Nu帽ez said.
He also said that the foundation is pushing the Quezon City Jail, one of the primary venues of their projects, to adopt and institutionalize the Stella project as part of its family days.
This year, HLAF has implemented three Stella projects in jails.
鈥楥oloring hope, reuniting hearts鈥
The Stella project has allowed detained mothers to be with their families despite being separated by prison. For them, it is not simply a coloring book event but an experience that they will cherish for their lifetime.
HLAF advocacy associate Mark Angelo Zamora shared an encounter with PDLs who expressed their happiness with the project.
鈥淭hey were happy because it was their first time bonding with their children, coloring [a book], playing together, and reading them a story,鈥 he said.
It was also the detainees鈥 first time sharing a meal with their family.
Every Stella project offers unique stories and insights. Nu帽ez said it also seeks to increase the PDLs鈥 sense of purpose and show them they are not alone in their journeys.
鈥淲e can see in their eyes that there is still a sparkle even when they are crying鈥 that there is still hope to live even though they are inside the prison,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e saw that they never lose hope because they know that someone is helping them even though they are in prison鈥 They never feel abandoned because they see that they have a companion in their journey,鈥 he added.
Guiding light
Motivated to promote human rights, the foundation鈥檚 volunteers said their inspiration to keep their advocacies going is the contributions they were able to offer to PDLs and how they continue to spark their hope despite being imprisoned.
鈥淲e believe that all people have hope and that they all need to be given a second chance. We always say that they are just victims of circumstance so we are here to give them a chance to make a change,鈥 Zamora said.
鈥淓ven if you only change one life and free one person, it is a huge contribution to the PDL community. This is compelling not only to a single PDL but for their community as a whole because they can see that there is still someone helping them,鈥 Nu帽ez added.
Nu帽ez also stressed that the rights of PDLs must be protected as聽stigma and discrimination continue to envelop the minds of the public.
Under the law, a detainee accused of any crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
鈥淭he main problem is that they do not have social support when they are incarcerated, especially when they are surrounded by stigma and discrimination. Because when they have been imprisoned, [people tend to assume] that they are already convicted even if they are still not proven guilty,鈥 he said.
Meanwhile, the foundation volunteers encourage the youth to become an avenue to forward human rights and be a beacon of change to the vulnerable.
鈥淭hey (youth) should not be afraid to engage in human rights organizations because no one will help others if no one volunteers. [It is like the quote:] If not us, who? If not now, when?鈥 Nu帽ez said.
HLAF also implements long-term programs, such as the Jail Decongestion Program, the Center for Restorative Action, and the Focused Reintegration of Ex-Detainees, which all aim to promote the rights, welfare, and well-being of detainees. 鈥 Rachelle Anne Mirasol, 黑料社 trainee