MANILA, Philippines — The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design Class of 2019 of the University of the Philippines has renovated the ECPAT Home, a transitional shelter for children who were victims of sexual exploitation.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, the class featured photos of its project called “Hilom: Rebuilding Spaces, Rebuilding Lives.”
The photos show spaces that cater to the children’s “physical, psychological, and emotional needs as they journey towards healing.”
Most of the rooms were painted with pastel colors and fitted with new utilities.
The team renovated the reception, living area, kitchen, dining area, stairs, hallway, comfort room, counseling room and bedrooms.
Jazmine Jim, one of the members of UP BS Interior Class of 2019, told INQUIRER.net that the project planning started in August 2018 while the construction was from November to December 2018.
Jim also said the team has set the turnover ceremonies of the newly-renovated rooms in time for Christmas.
“We started construction last November and held our soft turnover ceremonies last December 15, in time for the children’s Christmas celebration,” she said in an e-mail interview.
Jim shared that the children were blindfolded to surprise them with the transformed home.
“The children were blindfolded and had the biggest smiles on their faces as they removed them all together and saw their transformed home,” Jim said.
Jim said their class wanted to focus on a project that tackled mental health which then led them to help EPCAT Philippines, global network for child rights.
“The batch took time to search for the most fitting beneficiary institution, and after several ocular visits and shortlisting, we finally found ECPAT – an institution for child victims of sexual exploitation,” she said.
Jim added that there was an “urgent need for the homes to be rehabilitated.”
The location of the rehabilitation center was not disclosed “due to the nature of their beneficiary,” Jim said. /atm, je
The renovated dining area (Photo from Facebook)
The renovated receiving area (Photo from Facebook)