Philippines: Interviewing Parents

At each SCAW distribution one of our tasks is to interview several of the parents of children who are receiving a bedkit.

From Philippines 2011

The purpose of the interview is to help SCAW with ongoing assessment of the needs of the families and how the bedkit meets those needs. The parents volunteer to sit and speak with us and give input on the contents of the bedkit. With the help of an interpreter we have a set of questions to ask relating to living conditions, health of the family, the contents of the bedkit, and the parent's general impressions of the SCAW distribution.

I really appreciate having the opportunity to interact on a one to one basis with the parents. As we begin the interview, I hear them express the same hopes and dreams for their children that parents everywhere have. They wish for healthy, happy children who are able to get as much education as possible. They want their children to grow up and be successful in the world.

When I listen to their stories of cramped living conditions, poor health, and lack of basic living essentials it is very clear how helpful the SCAW bedkit is.

From Philippines 2011

One of the interview questions is, "What item in the bedkit is the least useful to your family?" Most parents have a difficult time answering that one. Their response is that everything in the bedkit is useful.

The message comes through loud and clear in every interview that the SCAW bedkit not only helps the recipient child it also benefits the entire family. Money that would have been spent on items in the bedkit is available for much needed food for the family.

Even though the parents and I speak different languages, I don't need an interpreter to hear the appreciation in the tone of their voices and see the thankfulness in their eyes.

Pat Innes
for Team Philippines 2011

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